February 1 – PAUL’S PEOPLE

 During the night, a vision was shown to Paul. He saw a Macedonian man standing before him, urgently pleading with Paul to, “Come over here to Macedonia and help us!” (Acts 16:9)

                 Who are your people? God loves people. The entire history of God’s relationship with men and women has been a story of that love. As you follow Jesus, becoming a part of that story, His history becomes your heritage. You begin to see your life as His work to help other people. The Lord will call you into relationship with specific people.

When Paul was given this vision, he immediately began to respond to it. Paul changed his plan on a dime. He still made tents. He still preached Jesus. He continued to face both positive results and epic challenges along the way. What changed was simply the “who.” Paul clearly had given the Lord control over where he would be, and with whom he would relate. Paul wanted to go to China, but God created him as part of His plan to love the people of Greece.

                 He created you to love and help specific people too. Ask the Lord to give you vision to find those people today.

January 31 – THE ONE THING

 Hear me! Our God; the only God, is the Lord. He is your Lord and your God. Love Him with all your emotion and intellect. Love Him with everything you are and all you can do. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

                 Think of a time when you made a big decision; one that would require a great portion of your resources (time, energy, money). A big investment, or an all-consuming business deal may come to mind. Maybe you are thinking of a huge personal commitment to a spouse or family member. Did you take that decision to God? Did you ask for what He wanted, rather than asking Him for what you wanted?

                 Moses explains here that God expects to entirely consume your attention. With this explanation, there is no room for you to reserve any portion of your life. Moses also says that God expects to be your motivation for everything you do and everything you are. Again, there is no allowance for you to see any part of your life as a place where God does not control your actions.

                 Tell God today that you want Him to consume your thoughts and control your actions. If you are serious, He will do it.

January 30 – ONE HOPE

I pray that all who believe may be one; the way you, Father are in Me, and I am in you, so they will be one in us too. Then, the world will have hope and believe that you sent me. (John 17:21)

                Where does community rank in your list of priorities for those you lead? How important is it to you that these people see your group as a distinct people? Have you given them a hopeful vision and the values that can set them apart?

                For Jesus, an intense common unity and fellowship was the one thing He asked of the Father for you and all others who would come to know Him as Lord. Only through this oneness of each person looking to the Father, each moment, just as Jesus did, can your community share the Hope of His love. Only then, will His Spirit be alive in you through Jesus Christ.  For a believer; a follower of Jesus, He is the Hope of the world. Jesus says that for others to believe and be changed, His church - including you and your people - must be united. Hope requires unity!

                Real unity fosters a culture that brings change in the lives of others in the community. Community is job one!

January 29 – WHAT DO YOU WANT?

 Jesus called the crowd to gather around Him with His disciples and said, “Whoever wants to live this life with me must give up pursuing what you want. Instead, forget about yourself, embrace the suffering you will experience in this world, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

                 What do you want? No, not the acceptable, honorable, public answer. Deep inside you, what do you long for? Security? Acceptance? Significance?

                 Jesus explains very simply and directly that following Him is not possible if you keep pursuing these goals that other people around you are seeking. This world offers a long list of diversions to fill any emptiness you may want to fill. Considering the many alternatives, and the strong attraction they have, Jesus spoke in clear, concise terms; “give up,” “forget about,” literally “take up your cross daily.” He was preparing would-be followers for an experience that would look a lot like His own life. Following Jesus, you will spend your life; giving yourself to other people so that they will come to know the Lord. This message is for you too.

                 You must want Jesus Christ most and only, if you want to experience the life He offers.

January 28 – PROMISES, PROMISES

 Not a single word of any good promise the Lord God made has failed to come to pass. Each one happened, just as He said, in every detail.” (Joshua 21:45)

                 Which are the promises of God that you rely upon most often? “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” “Come to me when you’re weary,” “I will return for you?” Whichever promise you choose, you can be confident. It will happen.

                 God’s promises are intentional (Isaiah 46:10). God’s promises are based on His love for you (John 3:16). God’s promises last (Psalm 33:11). Can the people whose lives you affect count on your promises? Are you careful to ask God for guidance and counsel so that your words and actions only make promises that are intentional? Do you take care to love others, putting their needs before your own, as you plan the way forward for those whom you lead? Do you act with integrity, remembering what God has led you to promise, and being certain that each promise is fulfilled in every detail?

                 When God lives in you, and He consumes your thoughts and controls your actions, your promises will not fail.

January 27 – KNOW YOUR ROLE

 Then Samuel said (to King Saul), “Do you think God is excited that you brought him a few animals? Do you think that is better than simply doing what He told you to do? Nothing you can do is better than obedience!” (1 Samuel 15:22)

                 What responsibility has God given to you? What do you know is your role? If you don’t know, stop what you are doing. Find a place you can be alone with God. Ask Him to speak to you through His Spirit, and give you that answer. When you do know the answer, immediately make that responsibility become your highest priority each day.

                 Samuel, and later David, the prophets, and Jesus repeated this counsel, “God wants you to do what He says, not some ritual or project you dream up to please Him.” The penalty for missing this advice is steep. God rejected Saul’s leadership role (verse 23) because he disobeyed, and He regretted that He had made Saul king (verse 35).

                 Don’t waste time creating ideas and beginning projects to please God. Don’t talk about how devoted you are to Him. Just ask Him what He wants you to do…… and then, do what He says.

January 26 – YOUR SERVE

 Don’t view life as a battle; acting always to advance your cause – looking for praise and honor to be heaped on you. Instead, give yourself in service, regarding each other person as more important than you. (Philippians 2:3)

                 Who do you want to rush past, overlook, or ignore? Do you justify that action with explanations of your busy-ness, important work, or the higher priorities that always call for your attention?

                 Paul defines the attitude necessary to live each day humbly, with the right understanding of God’s will for your life. He says, “Be alert for the needs of other people, and let their needs control your actions.” Think of a powerful ruler. Imagine the aides, assistants, and servants surrounding that person. Each is waiting, watching anxiously for any opportunity to serve. Each one measures his or her life and success by the quality of that ruler’s experience.

                 Now, exchange the ruler for the person you see as a burden; the one you wish to avoid. Place yourself before that most undesirable person, like an anxious servant, and begin giving your life in service to them. That is what Jesus requires.