REVIEW TIME

“Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12 NASB)

In the workplace, periodically, usually semi-annually and/or annually, your boss gives you your annual review. If you have been performing your job as expected or even beyond expectations, there is no anxiety whatsoever. Instead, your mind is filled with an expectation that you will get a deserved rating on your appraisal. However, on the other hand, if you know you have not met expectations, meaning, if you are aware that your performance is sub-below, there is anxiety, anxiousness, and apprehension. The latter case puts the person receiving the review in a state of mind that if he/she receives a “Well done” compliment, the worker would be totally caught off guard.

Guess what? As believers, we have a job description, one which I cannot fully describe in this meditation. And do you want to know something? I’m glad you said yes, so listen up. The performance process for you and me can be likened to the case where the manager who gives their subordinate the review form and ask him/her to complete it, keeping in mind the performance standards for his/her position. Therefore, if you understand the similarity, you and I should not wait for a formal review or wait until we meet the Master and see if we will hear the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant” commendation, but we should do a self-evaluations of our performance, at a maximum, on a weekly basis. A more effective review cycle would be daily. Perhaps doing our evening prayer time.

As I said in the paragraph above, I cannot fully describe the job description by which you should evaluate yourself, so I am going to give you an incomplete list, some extracts from your description. But before I do, let me suggest that perhaps you should on do a partial evaluation each day, comparing your performance to the expectations established by the Lord/ You should especially focus on the areas where you need to show improvement. Here is my partial list:

• Love God
• Love your neighbor as yourself
• Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Jesus
• Study the word of God
• Don’t forsake the assembly of the saints
• You are the salt of the earth
• You are the light of the world
• Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
• Get right with God daily (Refer to I John 1:9.)
• Love one another
• Reconcile quickly
• Forgive so that you may be forgiven
• Remember the least of these my brethren
• Consider your ways and see where God ranks
• Pray for everybody
• Honor your mother and your father
• Be submissive to God-ordained authority
• Go ye therefore and make disciples
• Lay your burdens down casting all your care on Him
• Wait on the Lord, but work while you wait
• Demonstrate who you are: members of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a person for God’s own possession
• Walk in the Spirit
• Keep your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith
• Live based on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God
• Strive for perfection and achieve excellence (Jesus said, “Be ye perfect as My Father is perfect.”)

When you do your periodic, partial reviews, pray that the Lord will help you improve where improvement is necessary. Depend on Him to help you execute your job responsibilities and hence, meet His expectations. I hope this is beneficial today, but don’t throw this away. Why not? Because your assignment is to do self-reviews on an ongoing basis. Yes, I agree with what you are probably thinking. The review part is the easy part. The reaching higher, committed to the climb, that’s the part that takes dedicated effort and work. Yet don’t let that scare you! Press on! Have a great day! Be blessed!

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 NASB)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King