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PROGRAM D-7131

I continue our story of Fran and Jesus on the Job, as Fran has to confront a Christian coworker who has a poor testimony in the company.  This is a fictitious story I began several years ago to encourage us to practice the presence of Jesus on our jobs.  Fran can talk to Jesus and know he is with her through her day, and it sure makes a difference in her life.  I hope her story will encourage you to remember that Jesus is with you on your job and everywhere else.

Today as Fran works at her desk, her Christian friend, Louise comes up to her.  “Fran, what are we going to do about Jack?  It’s really getting to be a problem.”

Fran puts down her pen and says, “Yeah, I know what you mean, Louise.  Barbara from accounting came in here yesterday and said to me, ‘Hey, I thought Christians were supposed to be honest.  But that Jack—he’s as devious as the next guy.  He tries to cheat on his expense accounts, but I caught him.’”

“You know, if he’s not going to behave like a Christian,” Louise says, “I wish he’d stop telling everyone what a big Christian he is.  It makes you and me look bad.”

“I know, it just burns me up,” Fran agrees.  “He went to management to try to play both ends against the middle and get that new account that’s been assigned to Bernie.  He actually told Marilyn some lies about Bernie, and Bernie is hopping mad.  He said to me, ‘Is this how you Christians behave?'”

“Doesn’t he realize that if he’s going to talk the talk, he’s got to walk the walk?” Louise responds.  “I’m really fed up with him—well, I gotta run.  See you later.”

As Louise leaves, Fran gets even angrier thinking about how Jack is ruining the testimony of Christians in their company.  But that quiet, still voice of God’s Spirit begins to convict her about the way she and Louise talked about Jack.  It certainly wasn’t very loving.

“Well, Lord, we were just talking about a problem.  I mean, something’s got to be done,” Fran says in frustration.  “He’s making you look bad.”

As she says the words, she knows it reveals her true heart.  She doesn’t have to protect Jesus’ reputation.  It has stood for thousands of years and Jack won’t wipe it out.  She is far more upset about the way Jack is affecting her than she is about Jack’s true condition.  And she knows that she and Louise need to respond to Jack correctly, not in anger and gossip.