APRIL 24 – WORSHIP

 God is Spirit. Those who worship Him must worship in their spirit – their very core being, and in the truth of who He is, and who He made and called us to be. (John 4:24)

                Can your people be led to worship – even before they come to know Jesus? Can they act their way toward the Lord and His truth?

                Jesus says that you must worship both in spirit and in truth. So, to engage in real worship that brings glory to God and joy to your life, you must have experienced the birth of God’s Spirit in you. Then, the truth of who Jesus is can be lived out in your words and actions as you are animated by the Holy Spirit who lives in you. Those whom you lead; over whom you have influence, can engage in those actions with you. As they do, experiencing the change they see happening and hearing your story of the Hope in Christ that motivates you, they will be encouraged. As time and your consistency proves your Hope is trustworthy and real, some of these people will begin to have hope as well; hope that can be the basis of their faith and trust in the Lord.

                Remember, worship is what makes the church, not the place where people meet. Lead your people to worship in Spirit and in Truth in every place you meet with them.

APRIL 23 – THE FAMILY

 Jesus asked, “Who is my family?” Then, He looked around the circle of followers who were seated before Him, and said, “Here is my family. The one who does the will of God is my family.” (Mark 3:33-35)

               Who is your work family? Who are the people closest to you; whom you trust, and to whom you give authority? As you clearly communicate the vision God has given you, and you share and define the values that are vital to that plan, this family will grow. Those whom Jesus sends to you will be added to the family. They may not be who you want. Some people whom you want to be a part may choose not to follow the way God has provided, and losing your close, working relationship with those people may become a cost of following the Lord’s vision.

               Jesus said these words while his mother and other family members stood outside the place where He was teaching. It is thought they probably wanted to warn Him of the dangers of His harsh words to the religious leaders. They likely feared for His safety – and theirs. Some of your people will decide not to do what they need to do. Some of them will leave; and some may choose to stay and oppose the work, even if their words say they agree. Jesus said, “Those who do the will of God.” He did not say, “Those who know this will, and can recite it.”

               Be alert. Watch to determine whose actions show they are your family. Rely upon the Holy Spirit guide your decisions.

APRIL 22 – I’LL BE THERE

Yes, He has taken upon Himself our illness. He has carried our pain and suffering. (Isaiah 53:4)

                What do you do when you see that your people are captured by the things of this world that would destroy their lives? Where are you when pain and suffering; mentally, physically, and spiritually, come into their lives?

                Isaiah relays God’s promise that Jesus will come. The man who will take on the cares of the world. He did come, and He was beaten, humiliated, and hung on a cross after a life of comforting and healing and bringing hope to people. By each of those acts He was taking on the sickness, pain, and suffering of other people. Jesus said, “If you want to follow me, forget about yourself. Take up your cross each day to follow me (Luke 9:23).” Jesus is saying you must understand that the life of a follower is a life of engaging with people who are in pain, and this life requires you to take on their suffering – as if it is your own. So, the response when your people are hurting is to view those problems as your own, and to find ways to face these obstacles with them. Sometimes, you may help remove them. Sometimes, you may simply be present. But, be there.

                Love your people enough to help them carry their problems, fears, pain, and suffering.

APRIL 21 – ABOUT STRANGERS

 When the shepherd has taken each one of his sheep from the fold, He walks in front of them. They follow Him because they know his voice. But, they will never follow a stranger. They will run from him because they do not recognize his voice. (John 10:4-5)

               Do you feel that you must try to please everyone, so you may be considered a good person? Do you go along with what another person asks - without asking God – just to keep the peace? Being nice and agreeable is not the standard for a person who will follow Jesus. Obeying - following Him, going where He says, and doing what He says to do is your standard.

Jesus warns that you will hear other voices every day, all around you. When those other voices – of the people who are not your shepherd - call you to something different from what the Lord has told you to do, you must refuse. Say no. One assumption of this counsel is that you must be listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit if you will know the right way to go. If you listen to the voices of the world constantly, they will begin to dull your ears to God’s voice. If you focus on His word, and His voice alone, your decisions will be clear when those other voices try to divert you.

Pursue the Lord’s will for you. Listen always for His voice so you will not be fooled by the voice of a stranger when he or she calls you away from God’s purposes.

APRIL 20 – JUST ONE

 I plead with you – by the name and with the desire and under the power of our Lord, Jesus Christ. You can’t become divided; tearing apart His message. You must agree, and become woven together; united in heart, mind, and spirit as one community. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

               Jesus clearly intended for those who followed Him to be united. In the few words recorded from His prayers the night before He was killed, Jesus fervently asked God for this unity (John 17:21). Paul understood that the church must be one, and spoke often with illustrations teaching how the people of God are to work together in peace and harmony. God told His leaders and prophets often to, “call the people together.” It was in this context of a united community that He performed mighty and powerful acts, provided for the needs of His people, and spoke His instruction to them.

                His intentions have not changed. God still wants His people to be a community united by their constant attention upon Him. He still is telling leaders to call their people to be together in His Spirit, focused on Jesus Christ, and loving each other and the people around them. When people are divided, the message is also torn apart.

                Lead your people to a common vision of bringing honor to the Lord together, as they love each other and the people around them.

APRIL 19 – SAME OLD STORY

 Noah did what God said to do. He did everything exactly as he was told to do it. (Genesis 6:22)

                Think of the great stories of the Bible. You may recall Noah’s story, or Moses and the Exodus. These, and other epics that tell of how God has worked in human history to change peoples’ lives, all share a common trait. Each story includes a man or a woman who had enough faith and courage to choose to trust the Lord and do what He told them to do.

                Can you imagine the people mocking and laughing at Noah each day as he worked on a ship that was longer than a football field, while he was explaining that a flood would come? Think of the conversations he must have had with his wife and sons as they questioned him. But, Noah continued – because he trusted God. God’s instruction very often does not make sense to the people who receive it. It almost never makes sense to the world around them. However, doing what the Lord says to do is how a follower must respond when God speaks. Obedience is the action of one who really trusts God.

                Chose to be obedient today. When God’s Holy Spirit speaks to you, do what He says to do. Let Him write a new story with your life.

APRIL 18 – DON’T STOP

 Pray without ever pausing or stopping. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

                Yesterday, did you pray? Did you really pray with all your heart and your energy? Did you take real time to thank God, to listen for His counsel, and to pray for the people He brought to your mind?

                Prayer is both the constant task and a great benefit of following Jesus. Certainly, Paul understood the demands of everyday life when He wrote this letter. Yet, he said “without ever stopping.” How is that possible? Ephesians 6:18 in part says, “Be alert; watching. Persevere in interceding for all of your people; God’s saints.” This envisions a life of looking for God in each interaction. Every object and each face you encounter, and every different act of your life is an occasion that calls for a conversation with the Lord. That’s why the Father gives you the Holy Spirit. “He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).” All truth means He will give you understanding of every situation that is appropriate for what He wants you to do. The Spirit will also give you the wisdom to know your way forward.

                Pray today. Pray tomorrow. Pray without ever pausing or stopping. Pray in the shower, in the car, and while you’re being yelled at by a customer. Do all this so that Christ can speak, informing your work every day.