Thursday, May 27, 2010

Up Close and Personal

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

-- Jeremiah 1:5


In the market for a new job?

Career counselors say that one of the best ways to separate yourself from the competition is to learn as much as possible about the company or organization you’d like to work for. That means searching the Internet – and maybe the library (if you’re Old School) – for complete information about its background, mission statement, business focus, recent setbacks and successes, plus the roadblocks it faces in the near future.

Why is this research so important? Demonstrating that you know your stuff can make an extremely good impression on the interviewer – the one who often has a say as to whether or not you’re hired or just passed over. Doing your homework also shows your potential employer that you understand where they’re coming from, where they’re going and how you can help them succeed. In turn, the interviewer perceives you as being “one of them” because you already speak their language. And your efforts also prove something else that employers value and appreciate: that you really care.

In many ways, the job hunting process is much like finding a soul mate. Once you think you’ve found that someone special, it’s only natural that you try to learn all you can about him or her, where he or she comes from and hopes to go. Instead of your naturally self-centered tendencies, your thoughts and tendencies soon begin to focus on your future spouse. And if the relationship becomes intimate enough, you’ll eventually begin to share your deepest thoughts and desires. You’ll become – as they say – a couple that speaks the same language. And why not? It proves that you really care.

It’s obvious that we’ll go to amazing lengths to demonstrate our sincerity and interest to a potential employer or spouse. But did you ever consider that we worship a loving God who does much the same to have a daily, intimate relationship with us? Perhaps the most famous passage in the New Testament (John 3:16) tells us that God loves the world so much that He gave His only Son (Jesus) so that those who believe in Him will have eternal life. Our Creator willingly let His own Son suffer and die to pay for all our wrongdoings – past, present and future. We rightfully deserve death because of how we’ve lived our lives. But God’s love offers us joy and happiness if we’re only willing to accept it. It was God’s plan that by living on Earth among everyday people and then dying for our sins, He – through Jesus – would come to an intimate understanding of the human experience. God would truly learn to speak our language.

Of course, there is one other important thing accomplished by Jesus’ incredible sacrifice: it proved that He really cares. Therefore, shouldn’t we?

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