"Under New Management" How many times have we seen that phrase outside of a business. It is supposed to give assurance that things are different. That they are moving in a new direction. That this “new” management can bring about needed changes to an image, or poor customer service, or faulty products, or a bad reputation. The problem is, many times theses changes do not take place. The reasoning for this is simple—while the manager may be new, the practices and procedures stay the same.
I know a little about procedures. OK. So, I know a lot about policies and procedures. It comes with the territory of being a Quality Manager. QA is all about the acronym. CA, ISO, IPA, EPA, ASQ, ANZI. You name it, we'll acronym it. Procedures and Policies are our life blood. (Not so much with pastors! Ask any financial secretary, treasurer, or organist that has ever worked for me!) The problem is, many "new" managers promise change, but never change the old habits, or...you guessed it...pro-see-jurssss.
The same can be said for our Christian walk. After all, isn’t that what we did when we were baptized? Didn't we give the controlling interest in our lives to a new manager? Of course, the answer is yes. Listen to how Paul put this to the Believers in Rome,
When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. So, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the wonderful power of the Father, we also can live a new life.
Romans 6:4 (NCV)
Do you see that? When we were baptized, we entered into a "new life" under "new management." That new manager is the Holy Spirit. It is like we hung a sign around our neck that said “under new management.”
For some of us that sign is new. It is as fresh as a baby-in-a-birthing-center. For others of us, the sign has aged. It has been quite sometime since the water was disturbed beneath our baptism. In either case, as we start the new year, let’s get the sign out and polish it up. Proudly display the fact that we are no longer our own. That we are under the control of the greatest manager to ever live. Really, the question on the floor is, “Have the practices and procedures in your life changed in a way that others can see that you are under new management?” I hope so.
Blessings to you in this new year. May 2011 be full of the blessings that God has in mind for you.
1 comment:
Simply awesome Steve. Well written! I just reevaluated my own situation and found several areas where I needed to start listening to the new management again. It's hard because I want to be the old manager (how has that worked for me so far, you might ask? Not so well!). Anyway, good thoughts.
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