Working ‘Under New Management’

“Let your life be a stepping stone to Christ and not a stumbling block.” 1 Cor. 8:13 & 10:31

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify God who is in heaven." Matt. 5:16

Working ‘Under New Management’

By Dr. Robert J. Tamasy

Have you ever driven past a business and noticed the sign, "Under New Management," prominently displayed on the exterior? It makes you wonder if that will prove to be a good thing or not, right?

I can think of a restaurant or two that I enjoyed going to until their quality and/or service declined, making it less appealing to continue patronizing them. When I saw "Under New Management" across the front window or marquee, I wondered, "Should I visit them again and see what has changed?"

The same applies to large corporations, where old leadership is removed and a new CEO is appointed with promises of bigger and better things to come. When an organization is struggling or falls on hard times, whether it is a for-profit auto manufacturer, an educational institution, or a well-known retail chain, the promise of being Under New Management often serves to calm stakeholders, at least temporarily, and placate disillusioned customers or supporters.

But taking this idea to a more personal level, have you ever felt the need in your life to be "under new management"? Maybe there are some behavioral traits you are not proud of. A hair-trigger temper that sometimes causes you trouble in your interactions with employees, colleagues or even customers? Perhaps underlying feelings of anger you find difficult to repress - even when you cannot identify exactly why you are angry? Or other temptations that plague you every day, whether at work or in your personal life? You would like to change, to feel or act differently, but feel helpless in being able to do so.

What would you say if presented the opportunity to make desired changes, and it would not take much effort on your part to experience it? Years ago someone came into my life and helped me to understand and apply some biblical truths that I found to be transformative - truly life-changing. Here are some of them, for your consideration:

We are offered the opportunity to become "new." Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ means a lot more than receiving forgiveness for sins and assurance of life after death. It also means we truly receive new life spiritually. With this comes the capacity to overcome old habits and destructive behaviors, not through our own initiative but through the power of Jesus living in us. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..." (Galatians 2:20). "...just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:4).

We are freed from the power of our old ways.Some view the so-called "Christian life" as attempting to conform to a new set of rules, rituals and regulations. However, the Bible teaches we become freed from the power of sin - defined as "missing the mark" of God's perfect standards - and instead are enabled to live as God always intended. "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness"

Perhaps you need to turn your life over to Jesus Christ for the first time. Or maybe, even as one of His followers, you have failed to recognize and appropriate His power to become "under new management." Today might be a good day to start, by praying and enlisting the support of trusted friends.

© 2016. Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. Bob has written Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today's Workplace; Tufting Legacies; and coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, as well as other books. His biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com