MAY 27 – AND PRAY CONSTANTLY

 We pray for you all the time. We want God to finish His work in you, so you will complete all He has given you to do, and Jesus will shine through you – with you bringing Glory to Him. All this so others see His work in you. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

                   Ultimately, the choice is theirs. Your people will choose whom they will serve. God will lead you through His Holy Spirit to encourage and help, but the choice is theirs. They will choose their own direction. What should you do if that is the case?

                   Paul is clear. Prayer is what makes the difference. Just as it is God who speaks to you through His written word, through the Holy Spirit, and through the world and events around you, He is speaking to your people. Paul knows, and explains here, that it is God who wills to bring you to the place where you will be useful, but He does not abandon others, leaving their future up to you. He is actively working in each person’s life; each of your people’s lives, the best thing you can do to help them is to pray!

                   Pray for your people “all the time.” Ask God to continue to convict, to speak, and to work in and through their lives to complete His work in them.

MAY 26 – SHOW INTEGRITY

 Always remember Jesus Christ, the living Lord, prophesied as Messiah King. He’s the good news. That is why I will suffer – even now bound in chains like a common criminal. But, Jesus and the truth of His life will never be stopped. That’s why I’ll keep going through this and anything else they do to me– so others will know Him. (2 Timothy 2:8-10)

                    When people are uncomfortable, and especially if they suffer a loss, they often look for a way out. To keep going when things get tough, your people need a reason to continue to believe and to push through difficulties. Will you give them the model of integrity that will encourage them? Will your actions show them that life in Jesus Christ is worth any cost?

                   Paul knew Timothy would soon pick up the mantle of leadership. His words must have both encouraged and scared Timothy. He could see clearly that the life ahead of him would be hard, but here Paul assure him – “It is worth it!” That’s what your people need. They don’t need empty promises that sugar-coat the truth. They need to know that living with values is hard. But, they also need to know that it can be done, and that it is work that is worth doing.

                  Have integrity. Life the life you ask of your people, and so lead them persevere until they can see their effort was worth it.

MAY 25 – FRAME THE CHOICES,

 Next, little children were brought to Jesus in hopes that He would bless and pray for them, but his disciples tried to prevent them from coming. Jesus said, “Leave them alone. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these.” (Matthew 19:14)

                   When opportunities present themselves, where your people clearly are going against the values you are teaching, do you take advantage of that opportunity? It may seem like a small issue, but the simple, clear choices that arise, can be great times for your people to learn.

                   Jesus saw the disciples’ intent. They determined he was a man on an important mission. His time was much too important to be spent with children. Jesus made clear the choice He was making. He chose people. Jesus loved people; individual people. He loved every one of them. He later would die for people; beggars, lepers, and robbers, as well as disciples and Pharisees – and children. People matter to Jesus – always. He values people. He makes it His job to be sure that His followers value people too.

                Jesus still values people. You have no people in your life who are unimportant. Help them all to learn to make the right choices.

MAY 24 – THE BIG QUESTIONS,

 One who was there had been by the pool, unable to walk for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him, approached, and asked, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5: 5-6)

                   Believe it or not, some people really become accustomed to being miserable. They may settle for a life that is far less than they could have, simply because it is much easier to give up than it would be to change. Some of your people are living this way. The biggest question for them – and for their future with you – is, “Do you want to get well?”

                   Jesus’ suspicion seemed to be confirmed in this story. The response he received when He asked the question was an excuse. People will often have an excuse for not stretching; not reaching beyond their present circumstances. It is your job as a leader to challenge your people with the big question. Ask them, “Will you be all that you were created to be?” If they give you excuses, you may try to help, but you are looking for those who simply say, “Yes!”

                   Ask the big questions of your people, and then challenge and invest in those who respond in faith and hope that they are ready to say, “Yes!”

MAY 23 – ASK….

 They (religious leaders) asked Jesus, “Why do your people not follow all of our traditions and rules? They don’t even follow mealtime ritual.” Jesus replied with a question, “Why do you ignore God’s word, and choose your traditions instead?” (Matthew 15:2-3)

                  Asking questions is a powerful way of teaching truth. Jesus used questions often. As you watch and listen to your people, there will be opportunities for you to see, and to hear the challengers who are competing with God’s will and your stories for your people’s attention. As you are attentive, the Holy Spirit may provide you with a question. That question may lead the person, or those watching, to consider His or her words. This gives each one an opportunity to see the truth.

                  Jesus, recognizing that these Pharisees were not interested in God’s truth, proceeded to explain how they had ignored God’s truth to seek their own, selfish interests. Then, He clearly contrasted God’s desire for heart-felt relationship with men and women to the empty performance rituals of the temple leadership. His question led to many people understanding more about God and His truth.

                   Look for the questions that God wants you to ask your people.

MAY 22 – REMIND THEM CONSTANTLY,

 Even though you know these things; even though you are already firmly planted in the truth God has placed in you, I will always remind you of these qualities – again and again and again. (2 Peter 1:12)

                   How often is enough? How many times, must you teach and explain the values and remind your people to live toward the vision you have been given?

                   Peter has listed the qualities that evidence a life lived for Jesus; faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, Godliness, mutual affection, and love (2 Peter 1: 5-7). He has explained they are critical qualities for those who would be faithful; who would finish the work God has given them. That is why he promises to teach them “over and over again.” If your people are to make sound judgments, and perform the work that is their part well, they must be firmly anchored in your values. Their vision must be stamped with a pattern you have given them for the future, so it can be real to them too.

                   Always; every day remind them of the work ahead, and how God wants it to be done.

MAY 21 – SO, CONFESS PERSONALLY,

 So, therefore, make it a habit to confess your sins to each other, and then pray for each other, so you all may be healed and restored together in unity. (James 5:16)

                   What do you do when you know that it’s you who has messed up? Do you try to hide it, or explain it away, so that you won’t need to humble yourself and confess? Your people see your actions. They know when you mess up, whether you admit it or not. If your actions are inconsistent with your stated values, they must find a way to deal with that difference. They will create an explanation. Studies have shown that people usually become tightly bound to that explanation they create. You can’t risk that they will choose to say that you have abandoned the vision and values of your organization. You must let them know it was an error; that you have not changed – you are simply human.

                   Confession, as the writer explains, is God’s plan for His people to live together in unity. The Lord has a people, and He has a purpose for that people – together. Only when you are humble, accepting that you too need Jesus, and your people, to be fulfilled, can you follow Him faithfully.

                   Be transparent. Be humble when you fail, and so lead your people to genuine unity.