Under New Management?

I saw a sign today in front of a gas station here in Ruston that made me think.

You’ve seen these signs before: UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Whether it’s outside of a restaurant, gas station, fast food restaurant or some other service-oriented business… what does this sign really mean?

Every time I see these signs, I simply think… “Oh the last owners must have been horrible!”

Think about it. How could this NOT be what the “new management” is intending to say?

They want everyone who drives by their place of business to know that there’s something different to be experienced.  They want potential customers to know that whatever you thought of the business before…. things have changed!

Hopefully this new way in which the store is being operated causes people to take notice. Service is friendlier. Products are of higher quality. All of this takes place at first.  However, after a period of time, if there is no daily organizational and structural changes (employees, policies, etc) then the tendency is to return to the old routine or the “easier” way. The easier way is how the old management did it. The easier way is WHY there was a need for new management.

The reason this has struck me (maybe because I was simply over analyzing everything…) is because “under new management” is a spot-on description of the life of a believer.

When we come into a relationship with Christ we are surrendering our right to be the “boss”.

“Under New Management” is exactly what our lives should be screaming.

Unfortunately, for many long-time believers (myself included), we have a tendency to return to the policies of the previous management.  There are changes that are made at first because the “new boss” is watching or we  get excited about a few different approaches to the daily operations. Yet, if we do not allow God to make the daily STRUCTURAL changes (ie. spiritual disciplines) in our life then we will also struggle with the desire to fall back into the old way of life. This has nothing to do with a “To-Do” list or a “Don’t do list”. But this has everything to do with surrendering our will to the will of the Father. Even Christ experienced this struggle during the most stressful time of his earthly life.

Think about it. We see this in our everyday lives. Fast food restaurants have horrible service many times because it’s just easier to NOT care. It takes effort to be courteous, prompt or even act like you want to be at work. At least that’s the vibe that comes off and oftentimes the vibe we put off.

How often do our lives reflect this spiritually? We can’t seem to be able to make time with God. We are short-tempered to those we love the most. We criticize rather than be a part of the solution. We choose to wallow in self-pity rather than move on in the grace of God. We try to get by on our own effort rather than the strength that God provides.

If Christ has truly taken over management of our lives then there must be a difference. Daily operations cannot be the same as they were. Too many believers feel as though these changes just happen on their own. No business owner just sits back and just hopes that things change. Well, if they do they will soon be very disappointed. Specific, decisive actions must be taken to insure that an overall difference is made in the business. All the more for the believer.

This is not about us DOING something. Grace not works.  This is allowing God to have control and submitting to what HE DOES through the work of the Spirit in our lives.

It may not look like it everyday- but I want my life to reflect that I am under new management.

What about you?

~ by crosseyedministries on July 13, 2009.