Would you say you focus more on your weaknesses, or on your strengths?   But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14 CSB   I'm a fan of the Clifton Strengths Finder. It's good to improve the things where you find energy and joy. We call those our strengths. These are good, but also close to crossing a line that God draws and the Apostle Paul warns us about in this passage.   What are you proud of? Paul asks that he never boast except in the cross of Jesus. This appears to me like a mountain that I will never climb. Fortunately, God gives us some joy and some encouragement with whatever progress we make.   What does it mean to be crucified with the world? It means we don't want, or need the world's accolades. It's so easy to do things to be noticed, to be thought well of. One of my concerns with this ministry relates to how I would look if we failed.   Ask God to show you where you boast. Then ask him for the guidance and the strength to begin turning from that very thing. Let's not let anything come between us and Jesus.   Would you like to practice integrating your faith into your daily life for a 2-week period of time? It's work, but you can do it. It takes a few minutes each day to ask Jesus to direct you. To learn more head over to www.MarketplaceMissionTrip.com and request an invitation. Or join https://community.followerofone.org and we'll invite you from within the community. Your faith can be much more focused on others than on yourself. And it's a lot more fun, too. Check it out.

How many days each week do you attend church?   "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." Matthew 18:20 ESV   I experience the joy of following Jesus more simply because I am working for him. But even when I was in a regular, for-profit job, I experienced him more and more because I intentionally interacted with several coworkers who were also Christ-followers.   We can experience the joy of following Jesus in any circumstance. And where 2 or 3 gather in Jesus' name, there he is. We get to see him, and experience his joy when we get around his people for his purpose.   The Trinity is working to make Jesus known. The more people who follow Jesus, the more who will experience his joy forever. Why wouldn't we help others experience that joy? Simply gathering matters, even if it's just 2 or 3 of us. Gathering can be a huge church service. Or it can be two believers over a Zoom call. Jesus shows up.   Today, what can you do to be on the lookout for others to gather with? You might ask God to show you who of your coworkers needs a friend. Or you might schedule a zoom call with a friend. You could connect with others in our online community. We get to see God work when we connect with others to live according to God's purpose and goals, or "in his name."   Step into this role. Be the intentional initiator. If you go through Follower of One, create a profile at https://community.followerofone.org. Or do it at work or over lunch. But let's gather with others and watch Jesus work.

Who do you work for?   "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:19 ESV   Do you really believe this verse? I confess, I struggle with fully trusting Jesus in this area. I don't have a long enough horizon or I don't believe big enough. Jesus is throwing down the gauntlet today.   Can we develop a level of optimism about this passage? I hope the Lord can help me trust him to this extent. I'm not afraid to ask but I confess I don't often believe it as much as I should.   Today, let's ask God with a friend for something that is for others, so they will experience the joy of knowing and following Jesus. And then lets watch for him to work.   When you get an answer, let me know. Send me a note at info@followerofone.org. I want to hear. You'll be helping me.

How well would you say you interact with other marketplace believers?   Matthew 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ESV.   I'm not talking about the people who work in your workplace and also attend your church or denomination. How are you in relationship with other Christ-followers at work who don't worship in the same tradition as you?   When it comes to how our faith shows up in public, one of the big issues has to do with inter-denominational interactions with other Christ-followers in the workplace. Can we drop our distinct differences and agree that we all follow Jesus? Or must we focus on the different points of view we have on different isms of our faith?   Wouldn't it be great if you could ask any Christ-follower and get a similar story about how Jesus changed their life? What if we lived so differently and appreciated people so well that people realized Christians were different in a good way?   Matthew 18:15-18 talks about how we interact with believers when there is a failure or a disagreement.

When was the last time you experienced a revolution?   "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Luke 10:22 ESV   A revolution can be a rotational motion around an axis. A year is the time it takes for the earth to make a revolution around the sun. If we're not careful, the years drift by. How long have you been at your present job? How long have you been a Christ-follower? The time can build up.   But I'm talking about what the dictionary calls a sudden and fundamental change in power or government. The United States began with a revolution against the then current political powers.   This passage Jesus is talking about a revolution. The religion practiced by the Jews for centuries was changing. God the Father gave all of the power and authority to Jesus the Son. Things were changing then.   And for each of us, when we follow Jesus, they change for us, too. We begin to operate by a different set of rules. Jesus changes everything, but not all in an instant. We're free to choose, so we can take time, sometimes too much time.   Do we live like Jesus changed everything for us? Ask God that question for yourself today. Listen quietly for the Holy Spirit to answer you. Then, do whatever he says. Maybe you need to repent of stealing time from your employer. Maybe you need to make time to bless a coworker. Whatever it is, do it today. Let's walk in this revolution begun by our Savior. Use your time and energy to help others move one notch closer to him. It all counts and it all matters forever, too!

Denise Yohn is the Founder and Director of the Christian non-profit, Faith and Work Journey. She works to equip and empower Christian businesspeople to integrate their faith and work. Denise became a Christ-follower when she launched her professional career but she didn’t know how to mesh the two worlds. She felt like she lived a compartmentalized life. So after much research and prayer, she started a marketplace ministry in her church. Learn more about the important work Denise is doing in San Diego in this episode of Follower of One. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Learn more about Denise Lee Yohn and the Faith and Work Journey [1:00]  You must consider your workplace a mission field [6:50]  Addressing questions about being a Christian in the workplace [13:34]  Being a faithful steward of your time can be your ministry [15:55]  What’s happening next for Faith and Work Journey [17:40] The conversation of faith and work versus faith at work [23:08] Resources & People Mentioned Faith and Work Journey Experiences Faith Driven Entrepreneur  Faith and Work Integration Assessment Connect with Denise Lee Yohn Follow on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter   Subscribe to Follower of One: A Faith at Work Podcast Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK

Do you consider yourself pretty smart?   In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father for such was your gracious will." Luke 10:21 ESV   Jesus says God hid something from the wise and revealed it to infants. Where are you on that spectrum?   First, let's acknowledge that Jesus is probably being a bit sarcastic. As he mentions the wise and understanding, I believe he's being sarcastic. This takes place right after the disciples return from having gone throughout the countryside and cast out demons and proclaimed the truth of the coming Messiah. Jesus is celebrating how God is working.   I consider this passage to be a reminder that true wisdom comes from above. And we can only understand it through obedience to God. Godly wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit living in us. He reveals that true wisdom to his children, those listening to him and doing what he says.   What about you? Do you think wisdom comes from experience or from books? In some degree, it does, but true understanding of God comes from him. Let's remember today that our obedience puts us in the position to know him better and trust him more. Then we're available to be used by God in the lives of others.   We also discussed a parallel verse in Episode 329, Wisdom from Obedience.

Can we really put God at the center of our universe?   "To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17 ESV   What does something like this mean to you? When you read a Bible verse like this, what do you think?   For me, I hope it reminds me that I'm not the center of the universe. While my flesh wants me to believe that would be good, it would be miserable. When I'm sane, and when my brain can line up with reality, I know a statement like this is totally true.   God in charge must be way better than I can even ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21). When I see God's tracks, when I see him do something in my life or someone else's life, I can only say "Oh, Wow!" I don't imagine I'll be able to even talk when I see Jesus. When people encounter angels, the first thing the angel usually says is "Fear not." We think we're so big and powerful.   This verse helps me remember that I live for him, not the other way around. OK, God, what do you want me to do today? You have your plan. Where do I fit today? What can I do?   We're training ourselves to stay plugged into God, taking our orders from him. That's true eternal life. We get to live it now by following him. And we get his joy now, too!   Memorize verses like this so you can stay plugged in. If you get covered up by your task list today, remember, we want all glory and honor to go to the eternal, immortal, and invisible Creator of the universe.   Join a community of people who try to remember this daily. Check out www.FollowerofOne.org and join the next Marketplace Mission Trip. It will help you train yourself to remember who you work for.

Are you an example of a Christ-follower?   "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:16   Paul says he received mercy so that Jesus patience would be shown to others. Don't sense any pressure to be an example. The patience Christ has given us is an example to others of what he will do for them. In the NASB it says "so that in me, as the foremost sinner, Jesus Christ might demonstrate his perfect patience as an example."   When we live, our life following Jesus shows others the patience Jesus has. Jesus said he didn't come to save the righteous, but sinners (Matt 9:13, Luke 5:32, Mark 2:17). In a righteous person, there's nothing for Jesus to do. He came to save us imperfect beings so that we might share that message with others. As Paul tells us in the verse before this, Jesus came to save sinners.   Today, let's help others move one notch closer to Jesus. We do that simply by modeling life following Jesus. Practice the 5 daily habits, pray, appreciate others, know what you believe, serve others and speak for yourself. Join us on the next Marketplace Mission Trip. But don't take that trip alone. Individually, most of us give ourselves a break. If you do this with a friend, you can help each other do the exercises and join the calls. It's work training ourselves to be intentional with our faith. Can you focus on the joy you receive as a Christ-follower and do the work? Check it out and learn more at https://followerofone.org.

Is God still working on you? And is that a trick question?   "To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power," 2 Thessalonians 1:11   In the verses before Paul talks about what God is doing. Because God is so busy, we should be praying. He says he "always prays." Could you say that? In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, he famously said they (and we) should, "[p]ray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)   Can we "always pray?"   I think we should try. Imagine going through life like you know God was with you. Every thought you had was something you could discuss with God. Every time you think of a person, you pray for them. You ask God to bless them, and to make their life better. I have a number of people who I have committed to do this with, and I need to keep a list and set reminders to look at the list. Some people come to mind regularly. Others, less frequently.   But if God is with me always, I can pray always. And for everyone I know, I can pray this verse, that God, through his power, would 1) make them worthy of his calling, and 2) fulfill every good desire, and 3) fulfill every work of faith. This 3-pronged prayer can be made for every believer the way it is and for every person if we make a precondition of them trusting in Jesus.   Will you pray for the people you interact with today. My mail carrier just drove by and I prayed this for him. Nothing can stop you from being on mission with Jesus any day of the week. Jesus started our mission. He's saving the world. We join him in that mission when we pray for others. And we can do that any time. No one can stop us from praying for others.   So will you get in the game? Pray for whoever just pops to mind. And you can pray for Follower of One, too. We work to mobilize the body of Christ. You can find out more at https://FollowerOfOne.org. Thanks.