JULY 1 – UNIFYING AUTHORITY

 And I have other sheep who are not part of your group. They must come to me as well. They will hear my voice, and follow too, and there will be a great, unified flock of people; united in Me as the Shepherd. (John 10:16)

                   Do you use your authority and influence to distinguish yourself from other people? Do thoughts of status control, and wealth factor in to your decisions? Much of what happens in the world is the result of people trying to divide others into groups, so they may gain a selfish advantage. These people are always looking for a way to move ahead. Does that desire surface in your life?

                   Jesus made clear that all His authority would be used to unify. His life and death were intended to allow men and women to have relationship with God again. His plan for you and your future is a work of bringing other people to the “great, unified flock.” His identity is to be one with the Father, always listening for His will. He wants you, and others you influence to be brought together through this love, not divided and conquered.

                   Recognize today that Jesus’ authority expressed through your life will lead others to selfless unity. Let this truth consume and guide your thoughts and control your actions.

JUNE 30 – HUMBLE AUTHORITY

 Jesus got close, and told them, “all the authority over heaven and earth is given to Me. Take what you know to all the nations and teach them to follow; baptizing them into the fulness of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Help them learn to obey all I taught you. I’ll be with you every moment until the end of this world.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

                   Do you believe the authority of Jesus Christ works through you? In this question, the full definition of Christ-like humility can be seen. Maybe you understand the lessons of humility that teach modesty and obedience, being faithful, and willing to pay the cost of serving. But, to really understand your role – to reproduce powerful leaders – you must live the authority of Christ as He acts through you. True humility is to fully understand, and to live, “for me to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21),” and “I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).”

                   Jesus is still saying this, “we will go together! We will reach the nations where I take you. We will work with all the power and authority of God’s Kingdom to bring others to new life.”

                   Embrace your identity today. Be Christ as you live and serve others, with all the power and authority He will show in your life. That is the way others will come to follow Him.

JUNE 29 – HUMBLE ACTIONS

 God will move into the life of each person who recognizes Jesus as His son and who lives in love with Him. We know and trust and stake our lives on the love that God has for us. So that in this world, we stay in His love, and we love just as Jesus loves. (1 John 4:15-17)

                  So, if the Lord God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present in your life every day, and if His plan is to live through your life to use all that power for good, then what is your purpose as the bearer of all that good power?

                   The writer of this letter says that you should use it to love just like Jesus did. He urges you to live a life that is given away for the benefit of other people. He envisions a group of followers who hold nothing in reserve, being motivated by the love of God to spend every bit of influence and power, knowledge, and energy to enhance the lives of others. The purpose of this letter was to enable the readers, early followers of Jesus, to know and fully experience the great joy that comes from life in Christ (1 John 1:4). And, repeatedly, the writer counsels, “do what God asks,” “live your life as Jesus did,” “love others as Christ has loved you.” Your purpose, whatever the details, is to use God’s good power to love others.

                   Are you using all your power “like Jesus?” Determine today to use all God gives you to show your love for Him, and to help other people to enjoy that love.

JUNE 28 – GIVEN GOOD POWER

 The Lord our God determined the number of stars, and He calls each one by name. He is great – having all power and all understanding. The Lord, Jehovah, helps those who are humble and need Him, and presses the wicked in the ground. (Psalm 147:4-6)

                   Many people accept that power is a bad thing; that too much power will corrupt the powerful. Another common idea is that, to achieve power, you must take it away from another person. Is this your view? Do you play the world’s power games? Do you see a world where there is a limited opportunity to succeed; where only a very few can prosper, so that you must compete with everyone else?

                   The Psalmist saw the world very differently from that world-view. From his perspective, all the power belongs to God. It is not a limited, precious asset to be fought for and selfishly hoarded. Rather, in the Kingdom of God, power is generously shared. It is to be used for good; to help those in need and to overcome those who are selfishly oppressive.

                   Consider how you view power, strength, and knowledge, and how this view affects your actions. Use the power you have been given to help others rather than to achieve more power.

JUNE 27 - …. NOT A SAVIOR

 He (Jesus, Lord of all) says, “Sacrifices as burnt offerings and sin offerings were not what you wanted. You don’t celebrate these acts. He said, “I came to do your will!” And, by that act – the will of God – we are recreated and set apart for Him by His work; taking away the call for our sacrifice because He was the offering. One time for all eternity. (Hebrews 10:8-10)

                   Jesus paid the price that God required. Done. God needs no more heroes to rescue folks. You have that hero. The call on your life is to simply be faithful to that hero, Jesus, and to persevere to the end of the story that is your life.

                   When you think of your life, and the people that God has called you to lead, you may wish to find the one epic reason for which you were created. The world loves these grand stories of fate and heroism. Your story as a follower of Jesus is about Jesus. There is only one heroic, epic role for which you have been prepared – faithful, obedient servant. That is the grand role from God’s perspective. He will celebrate your loving obedience. He does want your love and faithful persistence in following.

                   Let these traits of service and obedience mark your life. Give God what He desires; what He will celebrate.

JUNE 26 – A SHEPHERD….

 Peter was deeply affected; quite hurt that Jesus asked him a third time, “Peter, do you love me so much you will pay the cost?” He said to Jesus, “Lord, you know me inside and out. You know how much I love you!” Jesus replied, “Feed my little sheep.” (John 21:17)

                   Here, John captures Jesus’ presentation to Peter of the job description for a person who will make following Jesus their vocation for life. In a word, Jesus says, “love who I love, how I tell you to love them.” Remember, Jesus identified himself as the bread of life (John 6:35). When telling Peter to feed the weak, little sheep, He was not only saying, “make sure they eat,” but also “give them Me.” Given the challenge as to how dearly Peter loved Jesus, Peter must have understood that his calling was to give his very own life for the benefit of others, so they could know and grow in Christ.

                   The job you are called to do, as you lead your people, is to love them as Jesus loves them, feeding them at your cost; feeding them the bread of His life, and paying for that meal with your life as He did with His own.

                   Do you love Jesus so much you will pay the cost of feeding His sheep? Feed them as He sends them to you – one at a time.

JUNE 25 - …. NO MATTER WHAT

My only food – my tears – all day and all night, all while they humiliate me; taunt me saying, “Where is your God, now?” All day long they laugh and scoff. (Psalm 42:3)

                   The context of this writer’s panting for God is in a place (among enemies), at a time (in exile from the throne), that other people are challenging David for answers. They are asking him to explain God; to defend his trust in a seeming powerless, absent deity. Should David ad-lib? Should he try to vindicate himself? Or God? Not this believer. He would simply, patiently, humbly continue to seek God’s presence and comfort.

                   How about you? Dark days come. God seems to have left you at the moment you need Him most. Will you continue to pursue Jesus, and only Him, when the answers come slowly, while the personal costs rise, and while others laugh at you and make fun of you and your God? Or, will you lose patience with the Lord, and find the world’s most effective way to achieve the result that you think is appropriate? It is at this time of struggle, when life comes down to these simple questions, that you will know if you believe.

                   Persevere in faith. Pursue God’s presence until He acts. Wait on the Lord.