JULY 7 – ENOUGH FOR TODAY

 The Lord God said to Moses, Listen! I will send what you need each day from my resources; what each person needs for one day – every morning. Then, I will watch to see if they prove to be faithful in doing what I ask of them. (Exodus 16:4)

                   Every interaction; every relationship is different, and each ongoing relationship is different each day. How can you possibly prepare to meet that level of challenge? Can you read enough books, learn enough rules, or have enough experience to always do what is best in each of dozens of daily interactions? No, but God can – and better still – He promises that He does.

                   God’s provision for His people is constant, steady, and consistent. In this passage, He is explaining to His leader, Moses, “I will show you what your people – My people – need each day, and then I will provide all that you lack to accomplish what I will give you to do.” Has God’s nature changed? (Numbers 23:19). If not, then each person should take seriously the rest of God’s counsel to Moses. The Lord will also be evaluating constantly whether you follow in simple faith.

                   This one action; simply following in faith, is God’s consistent standard for men and women. Adopt that measure as your own. Do enough each day.

JULY 6 – AUTHORITY TO CALL

 Through this Jesus we also were given this great favor of God and the authority to call followers from every people. We call them at His instruction, on His behalf, and to move in obedience to His authority – And you too are those people who are called to have this relationship of belonging to Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:5-6)

                   Remember. Authority is about unlocking the world’s chains. So, it is about people. The great, powerful events of life are when groups of people respond to a call to do better. Those whom you lead – your group – acting together, in obedience to God’s leadership will be used by the Lord to change the lives of others. That call -the foolishness of preaching Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:21-23) is why you are leading your people.

                   As you obey, and call others to relationship and obedience, pursuing what is best for all – God’s will for their lives – those people will change. They will change dramatically, and will lead others to the new life they have found.

                   The reputation of your leadership is determined by its character – how you use it. Use it as Jesus intends. Use it to call others to be Him, so they can be made complete.

JULY 5 – INCORRUPTIBLE AUTHORITY

 Bragging that they, with human authority, were wisdom, they lived out being a fool! That’s what happens if you try to take all the glory that belongs to the incorruptible, forever God, and say that humans, or anything else that God created, can contain that authority. (Romans 1:22-23)

                  Do you ever get a little too big for your britches? Do you maybe worry about how you will solve the huge problem that hangs over you and your people? Do you plan how you will fix that person who is messing up the work? Do you think you have the power or authority to change another person’s life in a significant way? If so, you may be dangerously close to becoming the person Paul describes in this passage.

                  Paul is describing mankind in this part of his letter, but he offers a very important insight into how God responds to idolatry. Clearly, God doesn’t suffer fools gladly (2 Corinthians 11:19). If a person is foolish enough to experience God’s creation, His intervention in the lives of people, and His personal call to relationship, and yet still deny His authority as God, He will let them become the very essence of foolishness. Their innate need to worship will cause them to either try to become god, or to create some other, false god in which to invest their lives.

                  The only authority that is forever and incorruptible (stays firm, lasts) is the Lord God. Never try to take His role. Never assume responsibilities that are His. Always give Him the glory for what He alone can do.

JULY 4 – LASTING AUTHORITY

 Everything around you, and everything you can see – it’s all temporary. One day it will all be gone. But, my words last – forever! So, don’t focus on or get overwhelmed by this other stuff, or you will miss the chance for my words to become your life. My words mean either life or death for everyone on earth. (Luke 21:33-35)

                  Do you want legacy? Do you wish for the work you do during your lifetime to really endure through time? Are you afraid you may be invested in something that will not last beyond your leadership tenure? If so, Jesus gives the answer you are looking for to build something lasting.

                   What lasts forever is what God values. Over the course of history, He has repeatedly told men and women that His words are the way to real, fulfilling, purposeful life, and His words are about relationship. God’s desire is for obedient worship – period. All the work you must do to please the Lord is described by one phrase, “do what God wants you to do.” Nothing else will last. No manmade monuments will survive. No accomplishments will matter. No heroic, sacrificial deeds will be long-remembered, unless what you build or do is what the Lord asks you to make of your life.

                   Build for forever. Accomplish the work that God gives you each day. Obey His word and build lives that will last.

JULY 3 – WIDER AUTHORITY

 (16) Immediately, the man he gave the five talents went to work, using what he was given. He grew the investment; doubling it…. (21) the employer said, “You did so well; exactly what I asked of you. Because you have done what I asked, I have much more opportunity for you. You’ll love it!” (Matthew 25:16, 21)

                  God values and invests in people. What He has given you is people. He places a few in your life, and He gives you opportunity to do what He asks you to do for them. If you obey His word; if you do what He asks you to do, He will bring more and more opportunities to work with Him. Unfortunately (verse 30), if you don’t obey, there is a great cost. Rather than closely relating to the Lord God every day to invest in the people He loves, that opportunity will be lost. Rather than the joy of fulfilling work and growing influence and prosperity, there will be only tearful regret.

                  Every choice has a cost associated with it. The man in this passage decided to immediately go to work doing what his employer asked. That meant he could not spend what he had been given on himself, nor could he do business the way others around him said to do it. Probably, he had to leave some people behind as he worked with only those he was told to engage.

                  Will you leave what you want to do behind you, so you may follow the path Jesus tells you to pursue? That is the path to greater work – the kind you’ll truly love.

JULY 2 – AUTHORITY TO RELEASE

 Want to please God? Don’t kid yourself with religious talk. That’s not what does it. The worship God wants is to see you take care of the broken and powerless; orphans, widows, and such, and watch yourself to stay true in the little stuff. (James 1:26-27)

                   Can you even remember the stress of feeling powerless? Or have you become accustomed to the bigger problems of authority and influence; the burdens you carry as a leader? It is hard to be poor, sick, or alone. It is stressful to feel like you have no control over what is happening to you. It can affect your health, your ability to contribute to society, and it can eliminate all your hope for the future.

                   The writer here explains that God gives you strength and influence to look around each day and see who needs help. Your work – your worship – is to help that person He places in your view, as He shows you their need. Your love and help bring His hope for a future. Your simple act of obedience may enable that person to overcome the threats that overwhelm them, so they too can begin to help others and please God.

                   You hold the key to the chains of hardship that bind others. That key is simple, prayerful, obedient worship. Unlock someone today!

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.