rise above.
in this final installment of my personal ethos and standard that i am holding my teams at Rock Church to i am the part that is most difficult and most critical in changing culture.
it is this part that i have gleaned from leaders and bosses over the years, and the part that i have failed in the most. it is not enough for us to simple be better and do better, we most hold to a higher standard.today i conclude with rise above.in John 17 the scriptures show Jesus’ desire for his disciples as they are to relate to their world. it is a simple thing: as Jesus was sent into the world—he sent them into the world; as Jesus was not of the world—they were not of the world. Jesus continues by saying that this calling was not just for his disciples, “but for those also who believe in Me through their word.” this calling is for us as well.it is Jesus’ desire that we not be of the world, but be sent in it, like he was: to love, to heal, to transform.it is critical that as we deal with our own human depravity we understand that we are to not only be better and do better, but we are to rise above the pettiness, the gossip, the conflict, the politics, and everything else that so easily ensnares us.statement“we will set ourselves apart from the trivial and rise above back channel conversation and gossip and hold each other accountable.”scripture
“nut now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” john 17:13-21 (nasb)