MARCH 31 – TIME TOGETHER BUILDS TRUST

Continually, every day, all day long encourage each other, so that not one of you become hardened by sin’s lies. (Hebrews 3:13)

                Your presence speaks loudly. Are there corners of your organization you do not know? No matter how large your group, or how widely they are separated by distance, culture, and other barriers, you must know them. If you are to lead them well, they must also know you.

               

                This passage speaks of a relationship in which you are fully present, attentive, and prayerful for God’s words of encouragement. Especially if your time together is brief, or infrequent, you must watch and listen carefully and actively, resisting the temptation to defend, accuse, or even express opinions.  When you watch and listen in this way, the Holy Spirit will give understanding of the emotion and fears that you observe. At times, the act of simply affirming that you understand what they tell you will bring hope and encouragement to them. Listening to people is a powerful way to earn their trust.

                You are limited only by God’s creative Spirit, who will lead you to the answer for your people. Ask Him today how you can best come to know, to spend time with, and to encourage your people. Your group’s prosperity will be based on the trust that will come.

MARCH 30 – ENGAGE PEOPLE TRANSPARENTLY

The word of God has life! It is powerfully effective, like the most dominant weapon. God’s word disarms men and women at their deepest core, and speaks knowing every thought and attitude of the human heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

                God gives you a vision for the people whom He calls you to lead. This vision is a future He has prepared for you, and for those people to live into. If you will lead them effectively, you must openly, transparently give them His word as He leads you to do that. John Wesley once said, “Light yourself on fire with passion, and people will come from miles to watch you burn.” Does you life “burn” with passion for giving God’s word to others?

                Give your people God’s plan - His words and His vision for your life - as your deepest, most heart-felt desire. This word from God will resonate within those whom He is calling to respond in faith and join with you. You will see them change as they find their place in the work of the vision. Your openness will invite them to speak clearly and courageously with others. There is no other touch like this! The Word of God can convict, challenge, heal, and calm all at once.

                Have the courage to speak God’s transforming word – clearly, openly; transparently – today.

MARCH 29 – LIVE THE VISION WITH SERVICE

Each of you, in a way that reflects that you have been given all you are from God, be good stewards of His abundant grace! These gifts are given so you can use them to love others and to serve them. (1 Peter 4:10)

                The most powerful way to convey the vision God has given you to those whom you lead is to simply live your life following that vision. Peter speaks clearly. You should be focused on using your life, and everything else you have been given by God, to show His love for other people. Jesus lived this truth (John 15:13), and Paul also encouraged it (Galatians 5:13-14). Jesus clearly said, “If you want to be a leader, your life will be about serving other people (Matthew 23:11).” If this is true, then shouldn’t each moment of your day be a search for each of the people whom the Lord wants you to serve?

                Your life’s aim will then be to actively work to bring hope and help to these people whose needs you have been sent to serve. So it is – Your service is how you live that vision you are being given by Jesus each day.     

               

                As you walk slowly among your people, listen and look for the needs that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you. Ask Him how He would have you to serve the person you find. Then serve. Your gift of yourself to serve that person is how others will be drawn to the work of the vision you pursue.

MARCH 28 – PERFECT IS BETTER

Now go. I – I AM with your mouth. I have already spoken what will be spoken by you. (Exodus 4:12)

                There is a quote of Voltaire often paraphrased, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” Several arguments could be raised either to support or oppose this saying. Before you weigh in, you may want to compose your definition of perfect. If you knew that you could have perfect much more easily than only good, would you not want to pursue perfect?

                God has answered several excuses, complaints, and objections that Moses has offered as he tried to avoid the responsibility of accepting God’s calling. Now, God says to him, “I don’t care if you’re a good speaker, because I will be doing the talking.” Moses’ (maybe) good was going to be replaced by God’s perfect. That offer is available to you today. Jesus promised that, even when you are placed before people who want to harm you, “Your Father will speak through you (Matthew 10:20).” Just like Moses, your only responsibility is to go when and where the Holy Spirit tells you to go. Your obedience; your will to be used, is enough. God will speak. God’s word is Truth (John 17:17). God’s word is Life (John 6:63). Without God and His way, you can’t even hope for good (Psalm 16:2). So, when you think about it, perfect as described here, should be only.

                Perfect is not the enemy of good. Hold out for God’s perfect, so that He will say that your work is, “Very good.”

MARCH 27 – A VALUED POSSESSION

Now if you will hear me, and you will listen to me, and you will obey me, then you will be my valued possession – treasured more than the other people, though everything and everyone in the earth is mine. (Exodus 19:5)

                God is looking for those whose hearts are committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). God chose Israel as His people. He speaks here about those who will choose Him – by doing what He says to do. Do you want to be God’s valued possession?

                People are quick to leap into opportunities to distinguish themselves. To make a mark, and become known for achievement is a constant pursuit for many. Often, especially for one who has become a leader of a group or a business organization, achievement becomes the single focus – even in their relationship with the Lord. If you hear God; really listen, you will hear Him inviting you to a very different relationship. God is not impressed by your greatest achievements. The Lord is calling you to trust Him enough to remember that you are of great value to Him, and to believe He has carefully prepared a future for you that fits you perfectly. His desire for you to obey is motivated by His desire to see you become whole and complete. He already has control. What He wants is your heart.

                Respond to God’s call to be His valued possession

MARCH 26 – WHO IS GOD?

The Lord; the Lord that is God is full of pity, showing mercy, ready to extend grace. He is patient in His compassion, and always can be trusted to be the Truth. (Exodus 34:6)

                It is critical for you to know who God is. He is righteous and just. This is His world, and He will someday call men and women to account. In the end you can either trust god and His way, or you will trust in another way you choose apart from Him. In Proverbs (14:12 and 16:25), you read that any choice other than God’s way ends in death, so it is important to understand God and to understand this choice.

                Moses has just witnessed a small glimpse of God, and in these words the Lord is describing to him what he saw. This was God’s first-person description of Himself to Moses. How encouraging it is that God chooses to describe Himself in these ways. Although He later explains that He is a God of justice and judgment, His first words are descriptions of His love, affection, and His desire for relationship. God also assures Moses, and you, that He is always trustworthy and always true. No one else could make that promise. No one else could deliver if they did.

                Take heart in God’s words of hope and assurance, and trust Him and His way for your life today.

MARCH 25 – SNAKY BIRDS

…so be wise and shrewd as snakes, while you are pure and innocent, and simple like doves. (Matthew 10:16)

                Like the crowd who first heard these words, you may really be scratching your head. The challenge comes for you to be a snaky dove. What does that look like?

                Jesus is emphasizing what He just said about the danger that lay ahead, and He is giving more instruction. First, consider that Proverbs explains, “all wisdom, useful knowledge, and understanding come from the Lord God. (Proverbs 2:6)” So, Jesus again is saying, “I am sending you, but you will still be dependent. You will still need me to be close to you.” The book of James also wrestles with the rest of this message. There (James 3:13-18), the writer explains that real understanding will lead a follower to use wisdom for the benefit of others, with mercy and humility to make peace and show other people the way to God. This is the real distinction. Many teachers advise students to be wise, but in the world’s way. They advise students to be self-centered, and even deceitful. Jesus is saying His follower will use what he or she knows in the right way. Without understanding, those who are wise as snakes - but who realize they are really sheep who are heading toward the wolves - will live in constant fear. They’ll try to avoid contact with the wolves, rather than going where they’re led.

                Consider today which of your animals; sheep, snake or dove, may need more time with Jesus today.