day 332: IBNO Status (part 4)

Being in but not of the world (IBNO) means not being influenced by all of the behaviors of people around us. At work it is easy to be dragged in and consequently dragged down to the behaviors that are demonstrated, reinforced and sometimes rewarded all around us. We have been in discussion the last few days about many of the actions that can lead to bigger infractions or real value and principle breakdowns. But, there are even more impacting changes that can come from us that can upend our reputation and all the hard work we have put in to keep our character intact. These are things of the world that fill up our work. At work, if not more than any other place in our lives, we need to constantly be checking out IBNO Status. David Wilkerson puts it this way when he says that we must always be questioning ourselves against where the world wants us to go: “In other words, we are to ask ourselves: “Am I becoming more like Christ? Am I growing more patient, or more quick-tempered? Kinder and gentler, or meaner and more argumentative? More tender and forgiving, or more bitter, holding onto grudges? Do I ‘bear with others’? Do I put up with the weaknesses and faults of those near to me, or do I always have to be right?” What Pastor Wilkerson describes is a constant checking of ourselves to be sure that are not drifting or abandoning the ways of Christ in our attitude, our demeanor, our words and our minds. The world wants us to be less like Christ. We want to be more like Him, so it is a daily and continuous scrutiny of ourselves. This would be a great day to dissect your work relationships and see where you have slipped into the ways of the world and where it is time to pull yourself back up and most importantly back towards the true example we should be following.

Reference: Romans 12:2 (New Living Testament)