JUNE 23 - ….AND NOTHING ELSE

 Jesus, even though He had the very character of God, did not seek recognition as God. No, He took on the appearance of a man. He took off the things that would bring Him recognition, choosing to simply serve others as if He were their servant. (Philippians 2:6-7)

                   Do you want to matter? Are you trying to find something important to do? If yes is your answer, Is that consistent with your vocation as a follower? The goal of significance is common, especially among accomplished leaders. But, even when motivated by an intent to accomplish something for God, self-designed efforts just don’t pleased God.

                   Paul shows Jesus was completely aware of this, as God and as man. His nature – His character, was that of God. But, His work was to be man. He was to be the perfect man, so therefore, He simply became a man who was an obedient servant to God; showing mercy to God’s people. How amazing that the Holy Spirit led Paul to write in a way that brought together God’s desire for obedience (1 Samuel 15:22) and love (Mercy) (Hosea 6:6) more than sacrifice. Obedience equals love. Mercy to men and women God loves is the evidence of our love for God.

                   Choose the path of insignificance, and embrace loving obedience to the Lord.

JUNE 22 – ONLY JUST YOU….

 Jesus, while here in the flesh, suffered emotions and pain. He turned to the Father when He had need – with requests and thanksgiving, and with urgent pleas. He knew the Lord God, alone, could bring Him out of the vulnerability of human life and even death, and God honored Him because of that absolute commitment. (Hebrews 5:7-8)

                   When you feel overwhelmed, weak, vulnerable, and you are afraid – do you have absolute confidence that God has the power to save you, or to bring you through – even if you die? You must have this confidence if you are going to respond well when it seems you are all alone.

                   Jesus, who lived this life of submission and death to Himself he offers you, suffered. That is what this passage says. He had emotion and felt pain. He felt alone and vulnerable and weak and tired. But, even when it was hard to go forward on the path designed for Him, Jesus turned to God – only God. God honored Him because He responded with that absolute, consistent, and complete faith. What God desires from you is that kind of total faith.

                   When you want to be afraid, be confident. Know that your God – the Savior – the one who was brought out from death – can bring you through whatever is placed in your day.

JUNE 21 – A DIFFERENT ROAD

 I don’t want your confidence to be based on man’s wisdom. I want you to be anchored in the power of God. There is wisdom in what we have told you who follow. But it’s not this world’s wisdom. No, that will never last. We speak of the Lord God’s ageless wisdom that is hidden from them. It’s a different way. (1 Corinthians 2:5-7)

                   Where do you go for answers? When a big decision looms, and the stakes are highest, is it a consultant, a mentor, or a book that you scour for answers?

 If Paul is to be believed, all that wisdom – if it comes only from the minds of men and women – is temporary. It is destined to become old, dated, and even irrelevant. Paul taught Jesus. He spoke Jesus. He sought Jesus. That is what following Jesus means. Jesus is the answer to every part of life for any person who will follow Him. Ideas, information, observations, experiences, and the like will often come from human sources. How you regard this information must be determined by Jesus though – if you truly want to follow Him. And, much of God’s wisdom is the opposite of this world’s wisdom (Luke 16:15). It is a different way.

   Take the great risk that the world will call you foolish. Trust Jesus who, unlike them, loves you and calls you His own. Trust Him always.

JUNE 20 – VOCATIONAL FOLLOWING

 Jesus told Peter, “Follow Me.” (John 21:19)

Whoever doesn’t accept God’s plan for his or her life, and follow Me – accepting whatever that journey requires – can’t be mine. (Luke 14:27)

                   Have you really considered the enormous cost that Jesus requires of you? “Following Jesus” sounds nice and neat and safe enough. After all, God is love. He cares about me. Could He let harm or difficulty come my way? He did promise, repeatedly, that it would. Immediately before asking Peter to follow, Jesus gave him a picture of the future. It was not a nice, neat, safe vision. Three times Jesus explained to Peter he would give his life away to other people, and then he would meet a difficult, unpleasant end.

    Jesus told followers; promised them, that there would be uncertainty, difficulty, and pain for anyone following Him. He clearly said the cost for each person is to accept that unknown future unconditionally; to enter a vocation of simply following Jesus in every part of life.

Will you accept God’s plan for you without reservation? To make any exception is to say no to Jesus. Say yes – Follow Him - whatever the cost.

JUNE 19 – NO AGENDA

 Take the work I give you, and learn the way I will show you to do that work. Like me, you will find the right way that has been prepared just for you if you accept the timeless wisdom of God’s way to good life. In that life you will find real rest. (Matthew 11:29)

                   Can you really submit to Jesus as He asks? Not only by exception – in the moment where you are motivated to do some act of mercy, or choose a moral option. Jesus is talking about an ongoing, daily relationship that will go to the office with you. He will show you what to do, and how to do it all day at work, as you lead your people. He will set the priorities of your life down to the details. Are you ready for that?

                   With this offer, Jesus may have been thinking of God’s word to Israel through Jeremiah (6:16), where the prophet challenged the Israelites to choose one of the two paths at the crossroads of life, God’s way or not God’s way. He promised that, in God’s good way, they would find real rest for their souls.

                   Always, in every situation, decision, plan, and attitude of life, there are the same two choices. Like Jesus, choose God’s good way, and find His rest and peace.

JUNE 18 – LIKE JESUS

 As we love God, learning to live in His love, the Lord will bring that love to completion, giving us confidence that defeats fear. All this because in this world we will then be like Jesus. (1 John 4:17)

                  The writer here says clearly, “if you live in God your character and nature become what you love.” In loving you – God (verse 14), through His Holy Spirit (verse 13) has revealed and given you Jesus Christ (verses 15-16) as evidence of His love. Your love for other people, expressed by your actions to seek their interests more than your own, is what will become your character; your very identity. Your nature becomes the Christ you love, as you grow in that love and lead in response to the overwhelming love God has shown you (verse 19).

                   You are then becoming “like Jesus.” Like Jesus, your life reflects a selfless love. Like Jesus, what you want is never the basis for what you choose. Like Jesus, others will be influenced, and they will find their way to new life. Like Jesus, the world will not value and honor your work and your life, and will even despise and oppose you as you try to show them God’s love.

                   So, do you really want to be like Jesus? Is your love for Him such that you will have no ambition but to follow Him? If so, a life of passion and powerful transformation can be yours. Be like Jesus!

JUNE 17 - HOW?

 Jesus responded, “You must love the Lord God with all you are. That is to be your whole understanding of life. That is most important! And the rest of it is, you must love everyone with whom you deal by showing them a true and pure love. Love them as you love yourself. That’s everything – all of it – in two, simple statements. (Matthew 22:37-40)

                   If your vision is to be summed up in a description of your response to God (worship), it may be said that your values will be about both your relationship with God and everyone whom He sends to encounter you (love). These values statements are promises that you make to explain what it means to be in such relationships of mutual dependence and love.

                   Jesus was very clear when He spoke of what He valued. He gave details, painted stories that were relatable, and cautioned those who wanted to ignore the hard parts. Your challenge, with your people, is to be like Him; clear, detailed, relevant, and wise, as you prepare them to join with you in pursuit of what the Lord is calling you to do.

                   Pray for the wisdom to understand your people and pray for the courage to be clear and uncompromising on the standards God sets before you.