As we turn the page we reflect on the past and plan for the future. As we turn the page we review our previous plans against how we performed against them. As we turn the page we look at our new team and our new charter to be able to plan forward goals and a roadmap. As we turn the page we consider all that God was able to do in and through us. As we turn the page we consider the benefits and the consequences of the highs and lows that were experienced through the past so as to learn from them as we prepare for the future. What went well? What could have gone better? What did or can we learn? How did your actions and reactions represent the values and your values? What are areas of improvement? What are things to be worked on? How can you use your strengths and empower others in a way to cover your weaknesses and blind spots? What will the review of yourself reveal? What will the review by others reveal? What will the review of God reveal? Will you get to hear “well done, good and faithful servant“? With the first week complete, how will we live out the second week of the new year?
The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for January 9th
Performance Review
MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:II Corinthians 5:10-11
‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.’
POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:
- Have you reviewed your list of what is or needs to be done before you go to your performance review?
- Have you been working well with others over the year so that it will go well as you go into your performance review?
- Do you realize the stakes at hand?
- Might it include a promotion or a raise?
- Will you hear well done good and faithful servant and gain more?
- Will you not and have what you have taken away?
- Will you just hear that you are doing a good job and get to keep it?
- How do you make the review process as good as possible? as positive as possible?
- The reality of the review makes a impact and a difference on and in our choices.
- What if the performance review this time is before God instead of our earthly boss?
- Are you ready for the ultimate performance review?
- What kind of choices have you been making in your life?
- Are you a Christian and will be called before the judgment seat of Christ to explain your decisions as a Christian?
- Are you not a Christians and will be called before the great white throne to explain your decisions?
- Christian brothers and sisters, how will you come to the Bema seat, named after the victory platform in the ancient Olympics?
- Are you aware of this judgment that is coming?
- Are you aware of the judgment seat of Christ as well as the great white throne? Have you ever compared the differences?
- What have you gained by pleasing God?
- What will be taken away and removed because they were gained through selfishness?
- Will you choose now before it is too late to live in a way that will please God?
- Will you choose now to live in a way that will ensure a good performance review?
- Will you choose now to align your life with God’s plans and purposes and way?
- How is your performance review going to end up?
DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
If Jesus’ review of your life happened today, what would He be pleased with and what would He be unhappy about?
- Pleased:
- How I shared the power of forgiveness during the second test
- How I shared the power of forgiveness as one of my first introductions
- How I reached out to my brothers and sisters in their times of need
- How I served others – at work, in the neighborhood, at church, at camps, in the community
- Unhappy:
- it took me so long to forgive
- it took me so long to accept the role/position
How does the future reality of this review change how you will act today?
- Need to use my time to the best of my abilities and with reduction of distractions
- Need to lead my life with love and ensure to forgive quickly in order to avoid bitter roots and getting pushed off track
- Need to lean on God rather than my own understanding so that He can make my path straight.
- Need to plan and allow God to guide my steps
- Need to make everything about loving God who first loved me so that it will overflow into me being able to love others by loving my neighbors as myself.
QUOTES FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
— DANIEL WEBSTER
The most important thought I ever had was that of my individual responsibility to God.
Today’s reading from Tanakh:
- Genesis 15
- Genesis 16
- Genesis 17
- Notes:
- God is our shield
- Abraham’s offspring will be too great to count
- By Abraham’s putting his trust in God, it was accounted to him as righteousness
- God made a covenant with Abraham
- Abraham and Sarah tried to take things into their own hands … Ishmael was the outcome
- Abraham receives the promise of Isaac
- Abraham and Sarah received new names from their original names of Abram and Sarai because God was going to make Abraham the father of a multitude of nations and God was going to bless Sarah giving Abraham a son by her and blessing her so that she shall give rise to nations; rulers of peoples shall issue from her.
- God made the covenant of circumcision with Abraham
How will your performance review look? How will your performance review turn out? Will you have the covering of Jesus when you get there (Judgment Seat of Christ)? Will you be going in for condemnation (Great White Thone)? Will your performance review be a response of good or bad or will it be a response of little or great?
Were are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together.
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
—The Sinner’s Prayer
Did you pray this with me? Would you like to connect and discuss it with me? Would you like to make time to start your walk with Jesus? Do you have questions? Please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
