Monday Dread or Delight

It's Monday!

Or as they say in Español, "¡Es lunes!" Or something like that. (Monday might not sound any better to you in Spanish, but if Spanish is the language of love, it was worth a shot.)

All kinds of emotions come piggybacking on Mondays.

For some it is dread and for others delight.

I feel blessed to have a job that I love. If you don't know, by day I am an elementary school teacher. The people I work with are incredible. They make work fun. The people I work for are empowering. They allow us space to work freely. My students remind me every day (well, almost every day) why it was that Jesus loved kids so much during his stay here.

Nothing like someone being cheerful on a Monday morning, huh?

Maybe right now you are feeling the opposite. You feel like throwing up.

Maybe you are dreading work.

That's okay; you aren't alone.

Christian, whether your Monday brings delight or dread, it's important to remember this:

Your work is not who you are.  

I really enjoy my job and find fulfillment in it. But teaching is what I do, it is not who I am. Likewise, if you hate your job, it isn't who you are.

If work doesn't determine who you are, what does?

It's really simple for the Christian. Jesus has decided for us.

Paul informed us that "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26). You are a child of God.

Peter let us know that we are chosen and chosen for a purpose. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).

While Christ determined who you are, you still have a huge role to play on this side of eternity. This is one of those times where the saying, "Jesus loves you, but everybody else thinks you are a jerk" might apply.

Jesus said that he is the vine and we are the branches. You are a branch. Embrace your inner branch (whatever that means). Stay connected to the vine and you enjoy the promise of bearing fruit. Disconnect from the vine and you are useless (John 15:5).

Perhaps you don't like Mondays. Perhaps you hate your job. Perhaps you love it and you find your fulfillment in it. It doesn't matter either way. Just know that your work is not who you are. Christian, who you are is found in Christ.

Let that drive you today and every other day for that matter.