MAY 31 – SECOND NATURE

 Don’t love this world, nor anything in it. If you do love these things, you aren’t following God. Because, everything in this world that you want and you think is beautiful and important – that all belongs to this world. It’s not the Father’s concern. All that passes away, and men tire of it. But God’s purpose lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

                   Are you sure you love what you think you love? Consider that your actions are what show your true loves; your deepest desires. When you must choose between more for you, or more for another person, which do you pick? The things you unconsciously choose to pursue during your day were trained into you before you gave your life to Christ. Has the Lord reshaped you with His new, second nature?

                   Many of the New Testament writers cautioned about mindlessly conforming to old habits and the ways of this world. This world teaches you that there are things more important than Jesus. But you know better. Everywhere, all around you and your people, your culture is helping you to acquire this false narrative – this empty vision they call the good life. Don’t be fooled, and don’t let your people buy in to the lies that tell them who and what to love.

    Choose to embrace the new, second nature that God has placed within you and lead your people to do the same.

MAY 30 – WITH PURPOSE

 I’ve given you a new heart and spirit; taking away your old hard heart, I’ve put in you a heart that loves. And, My Spirit that I put in you will lead you and teach you My ways, and you will live in My reality to be My people. And – I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:26-28)

                   What is truly at the center of your life? A person? A goal? An organization? A Position? An image you maintain? God does not compromise. God will not share you. God will not allow you to exclude Him from any moment of your day. Without a firm focus on Jesus, you will pursue – worship – something else. Those other things you pursue, no matter what you choose, you will need more and more of that thing. The only God that can be enough is the Lord, Jesus Christ.

                   This passage explains the wholesale change that comes by the Power of Christ in you. When you are changed by God, there is a new you; a new reality. The new you is led and taught; mentored and grown by God’s Holy Spirit, who has taken up residence within you. Your capacity (heart) has been enlarged. You can love Jesus as He intended. You have the heart to love others, and unite them in Christ as the Spirit works in and through your life.

                  Recognize who you are. Take the role you have been given seriously. Act with purpose, and from your new heart, in all you do.

MAY 29 – WITH PROCESS

 After this, the Lord Jesus identified seventy others. Then, He sent them out two by two, to arrive before Him into every city and every place He would come. (Luke 10:1)

                   Jesus sent these people out with very detailed instructions. He gave them a very specific process to follow in their work. He gave them actions that would let them live their way into greater understanding of His gospel, His mission, and the Kingdom of God. These practices are preparing them to live their faith in Him.

                   The practices, processes, and detailed instructions for not only what the people of your community will do, but also how they will do the work and how they will relate to each other, and why they are doing what they do – all of that – becomes part of your community’s culture. As your people live their way into greater understanding, much of it will seem to happen unconsciously – almost from habit. But, you must understand that it is your hard work in obedience to the vision God has given you that will create the environment where it occurs.

                   Ask God to give you the whats, whoms, and all the whens and hows you will communicate as you send your people out.

MAY 28 – WHAT DO YOU WANT?

 Then, James and John’s mother approached Jesus. She knelt and asked if he might grant her a favor. Jesus asked her simply, “What do you want?” (Matthew 20:20-21)

                   Do you ask your people what they want? In a world of expert studies and polling data, customer service indices, and trade publications you may think you know what they want. However, if you ask them - seriously – and give them time to think, you may be surprised. You may get a real and thoughtful answer.

                   Jesus often asked this question in one form or another. It was more to make the other person think than to get their answer. This question makes the responder consider, “What is important?” When your people have an opportunity to tell you what they really want, and they have time to carefully think about it, and they believe you will listen and care, they will be serious. The answer will then help you – and the process will help them more. One of the greatest ways to show love for another is to be concerned for their deepest desires.

                   Invest the time and energy to ask your people, “What do you want?”

 

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.