NOVEMBER 24 – A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS

 (Those who rejected Jesus failed yet again) But you – believers – followers – God picked you! You are Priests. As His own, favorite people, you can be Holy – part of His royal family. Show other people the way to this Jesus; the Christ who rescued you from a meaningless existence to give you His magnificent purposes. (1 Peter 2:9)

                    Is your group a community full of leaders? Are you working toward that end? Would you like to have more of your people growing to love and care about others?

                    Peter was serious about rocks. Maybe it was because Rock (Cephas) was the name Jesus gave to him as a replacement for Simon (God has heard) when Simon first identified Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:16). In a way, this was Jesus explaining to His followers the truth that Peter tells others here. Jesus is that rock on which prosperous lives must be based. When you are adopted into His Holy family, you begin to follow Him. As you grow in that relationship, you inherit His purpose of providing others help in restoring their relationship with God and with each other.

                    Help your people find their identity as a co-rock; a partner in God’s purposes. It will provide meaning in your life and in the lives of those whom you are called to lead.

NOVEMBER 23–DECEIVERS USE THEIR WISDOM

 The person who is sure his intellect and emotions will tell him the right thing to do – that person is stupid. But, the person who follows the Lord’s path finds wisdom, and that person will be rescued. (Proverbs 28:26)

                    How do you make decisions? Are you confident that your experience, intellect, and intuition are going to render sound decisions? The Bible repeatedly says that this state of self-reliance is foolish pride. The world tells you that it is the way to be wise. Who will you believe?

                    The statements in this passage assume that life is filled with challenges beyond the capacity of human intellect and rational thought. The passage argues for a relationship of dependence on God for your decisions each day. The greatest deception of Satan is found here; the one that we call “original sin” (Genesis 3:15) shows it clearly. The root decision of your personal life is, “will you trust in God or trust in yourself?” You cannot carve out segments of your life where you are in charge. You cannot give God the big issues, and you handle the details because that would imply you can determine which issues are big.

                    Don’t deceive yourself on this point. Then, help your people to see and live in truth with you. You nor your people are competent to live a prosperous life without God’s constant involvement. Give all your decisions to Him.

NOVEMBER 22 – DECEIVERS NEED A REASON

 (God’s plan to make us different) is so there will not be splits and battles among you; so that you will each be concerned about the other person because their contribution is so important to the group’s welfare. (1Corinthians 12:25)

                   Do you see others in your group as valuable, unique partners in pursuing God’s vision? Do you remind your people often that each person, you included, is dependent upon the others for the prosperity of the whole? Or, do you believe you, or another leader, are more important than the rest, and so foster fear and selfishness among your people? If you help your people see relationships from God’s perspective, you will prepare them to thrive as a group.

                   In Paul’s time, as today, the default attitude for everyday people was to see other people as rivals, competitors for vital resources, and as enemies. Paul’s explanation that the Lord designed us to be mutually dependent and cooperative was – and is – exactly the opposite of the world’s expert opinions. This world’s dog-eat-dog existence gives opportunity for a person to rationalize almost any behavior under a mistaken idea that their self-preservation demands an extraordinary action. That’s how thieves bring themselves to steal and murderers to kill. In God’s world, people see abundance, but here in this world there is never enough to go around.

                   Lead your people to embrace the unity and trust in God that dispels fear and prevents a selfish perspective.

NOVEMBER 21 – DECEIT NEEDS OPPORTUNITY

 The reason I wrote was to see if you are found to be trustworthy and are obeying all God requires of you. (2Corinthians 2:9)

                   A strong relationship of trust is not about benefitting and then abandoning the person while wishing them the best. Extending trust genuinely requires valuing a person enough to love them into a mutually accountable relationship. That investment of your time and energy to provide or plan for feedback and help to navigate uncertain, new paths is often the costliest action you can take. Will you pay that cost?

                   Paul knows that you can trust a person too much; so much that they will be harmed by your refusal to continue accepting the responsibility for your people’s welfare. The Corinthian people were part of Paul’s responsibility, and he continued to monitor and encourage them regularly. With constant temptation, and the cares of everyday life, your people need for you to love them enough to stay involved in their lives. As you grant them authority, they do become responsible for their part, but you continue to bear responsibility for obeying God’s command to love them. In the absence of accountability, your people will often deceive themselves as they are left to measure their own actions.

                    Love your people enough to help them avoid this deception. Give them the accountability they need to continue pursuing God’s vision for their lives.

NOVEMBER 20 – FRAUD PREVENTION

 Therefore (since we please God, and we find His peace and joy through obeying Him – v.17), let us seek peace and what helps one another. Don’t get in the way of what God is doing for personal gain. There are many things you can choose to do, but you choose what helps rather than hurts another person. (Romans 14:19-20)

                    It is one thing to accept that some pain may come your way, but to choose to deny yourself an indulgence – even when there’s nothing immoral or unethical about doing it – that is another issue altogether. Have you ever consciously chosen not to do something you really wanted to do, just because it may hurt someone else?

                    It seems that Paul is encouraging initiative here. “Do what the Lord tells you to do, and then look around for ways you can encourage others (and refrain from derailing them). Paul knows that you can’t make decisions for other people, but he is saying, “Even when you extend trust enough to love and care for other people, don’t trust them with things that may harm them.” You can often keep people from fooling themselves. That is the fraud that will hurt them the most.

                    Care for others like Jesus cares for you. Let their needs inform and motivate your actions.

NOVEMBER 19 – YOU WILL GET HURT

 Even though people are terrible, and they will lie about me, I’m going to obey what you tell me to do with all my heart. Even though others won’t understand, I will embrace this pain, and all that goes with it, if I can learn to live life your way. (Psalm 119:69-71)

                   Do you love God enough to obey Him when it hurts? Can you overcome your fear of pain or loss with your trust in Jesus and His promises? The difficulties are inevitable when your work requires extending trust to people. Are you willing to embrace this difficulty as a necessary part of the job?

                    Scholars have said that the basic principles of God; His values, are repeated often throughout Scripture. If this is true, there is suffering for each person who would live life on God’s terms. Jesus explained that suffering has long been a part of obeying God, and that such suffering is part of following Him (Matthew 5:11-12). Paul, Peter, and others explain that your willingness to accept personal loss is an important part of both showing God’s love to others, and of growing in understanding of His love for you. Just as physical pain can teach lessons to every person, the suffering you experience because you follow Jesus is part of bringing you to spiritual maturity.

                    Understand and trust that God’s love for you will be worth the costs of following His way.

NOVEMBER 18 – BUT TRUST IS GOOD, RIGHT?

 There’s nothing to trust about mere mortals. Men can’t save you. When a man dies, so do his plans. And, he returns to dust. Real help and blessing – that comes from God. The Lord of Jacob who made everything is the trusted judge who helps those who suffer. (Psalm 146:3-7)

                   Here again, you are advised by Scripture not to expect men and women to be trustworthy. How often have you wondered, “can I trust this person who needs my help?” Maybe you’re worried that, “they will just waste this opportunity. Why should I invest in them (again)?” If so, you are in luck. This passage gives both correct answers to your questions.

                   Absolutely, no! Men and women aren’t even capable of insuring that they will do what they say. They are not trustworthy. And, absolutely, yes! The Lord, God – who created them – loves them (and you). He provides real help and blessing. He can be trusted. Jesus came to find and rescue hopeless, helpless people who were otherwise headed for self-destruction (Luke 19:10). Paul recognized that this purpose becomes your purpose as you follow Christ. He said, “this love of Jesus compels us. (2 Corinthians 5:14)”

It compels you to extend trust to those who don’t deserve it – people just like you.

                    Place your trust in God alone. But, extend His love - in that trust – to other people each day as He leads you.