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Editors’ note: 

Our work or vocation is very much a part of the Gospel story. In this series, The Gospel Coalition India invites working professionals and entrepreneurs to reflect on their work through the five chapters of the Gospel narrative—creation, fall, redemption, renewal and new creation.

Joseph Teja talks about how his work as a public policy professional fits into the gospel story.

Vocation: Tell us about your work

I am a public policy professional working with the Government of India. My work is to develop the policy discourse around clean energy vehicles—especially focusing on how India can build resilient supply chains, skilled workforce, and affordable electric vehicles.

So, part of my job includes fostering strategic partnerships with central ministries, state governments, the automobile industry, academia, financial institutions, and bilateral and multilateral institutions to bolster the rapid adoption and penetration of electric vehicles in India.

Creation: How does your work connect with God’s original creation plan for humanity?

To put it in biblical language, my work is to redeem our nation from the clutches of CO2 emissions by vehicles. This would improve the quality of life in our country. With this posture, I guide the decision-makers, whom I closely work with every day.

Fall: How is your work making you aware of your own brokenness and the brokenness of the world around you?

Through my work, I have seen brokenness in myself—how bitter and negative I can become when my colleagues are in the limelight, ahead of me. And how much I hold on to my own opinions as best, over my colleagues. This sometimes leads me to isolate myself from my team. It also takes away my peace of mind and heart.

Through my work, I see the brokenness of our world primarily in how much the human heart is deceitful. And to what extent one can go, just to save face—especially when things don’t go as planned.

This is how I would sum up the brokenness in our world: “the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.”

Redemption: Could you share a recent example of how the gospel made you a better worker?

When I was struggling with accepting the success of my colleagues, I knew my heart was not right. And yet, I was unable to bring the gospel to bear in this aspect of my life. But two things helped soften my heart to receive the gospel.

Firstly, my daily conversations with my wife. She was kind to me. She never hurried to judge me. But she continued to remind me to stretch myself and build relationships with my colleagues. Secondly, listening to the riches of God’s goodness constantly through my church community.

Renewal: How are you able to love and serve others in and through your work?

Today, I am at a place of peace. I am not too bothered about the limelight. I try to posture my heart to give my best in the vocation God has placed me in. I am also taking baby steps and efforts to appreciate and support my colleagues without any grudges, but with a clear conscience.

New Creation: How do you connect your work here and now to our longing for the perfect world that Christ will bring when He comes again?

When I wake up every morning and step out onto the streets as I head to work, I groan inwardly.

As the apostle Pauls says, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:22-23).

I feel this groaning every day at my work as I engage with decision-makers. My soul desperately cries, “Maranatha.” (Come, Lord).

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