(Originally published on April 27, 2009)
Truth
“Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
Paul asks this poignant question to the churches of Galatia. Why is it that speaking the truth inflames passions? Why does the truth become a line in the sand, turning friends into enemies? The cliché is that truth hurts. It’s more than a cliché. The truth really does hurt. But the truth can also set us free. Paul, in fact, asks this question right before he launches into a lengthy exposition of biblical freedom in Christ: So if the truth sets us free, why do we resist?
I think it is because the truth always exposes the darkness in our own lives. Nobody wants to think that they harbor darkness in their life, especially Christians. Especially church attending, Bible study going, faithfully giving Christians. To even suggest that there might be impure motives in our religious devotion, or that we are guilty of polluting the body of Christ with our attitudes, to insinuate that darkness is present, will always result in a backlash. This is why it is difficult, and even dangerous, to be a pastor. This is why it is hard to be a leader. Leaders must speak the truth, and in doing so point out error anywhere and in anyone when they see it. And that’s what hurts so bad. To acknowledge truth is to, by default, acknowledge error. And to label it. This is offensive. We live in a world today that despises the truth so much that it claims that there is no truth, or that each person must construct their own truth. Truth is thus relative. This means there is no truth for all people during all times. This means that no one is ever in error. They just have their version of the truth. But when the leader stands up and declares that truth exists, that there are certain things that are true for all people in all times, and when the leader dares to actually name that truth, watch out. Pain and backlash.
But occasionally there will be those who lay aside their hurt, who fight through their pain and who look the truth square in the eyes. They see the measuring stick and they place themselves next to it. In doing so, they find freedom. This makes leading worth it. For me it makes pastoring worth it. I have the unique position of being able to watch the proclaimed truth transform a fellow human being into a new creation. It is humbling and very cool.
So do this sometime this week when you have time. Make a list of truth statements. Statements that are true in all places and in all times. Truth statements that you know draw the line in the sand. Once you have your list then let me ask you: When and how are you going to tell the truth? Yea, I know it’s scary, and exciting, but you can do it. You need to do it. Will it make you an enemy to some? Yes. It will also mark you as a leader.
“Lord, may I have the boldness to tell the truth. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally published on April 20, 2009)
Leading From Suffering
I have a dear friend named Steve. He is currently serving as a pastor at a church in northwest Arkansas. Steve and I have worked together on the same staff in the past and he has functioned as a sort of mentor to me. Few people know as much about ministry and the church as my friend and brother Steve. Well, Steve called me the other day and asked for prayer. He had gone to his eye doctor for a routine exam, and about halfway through the visit, the doctor stopped and told Steve he needed to see a specialist. “Something” is going on in there. Of course, Steve is like most of us and his mind began to gravitate toward the worst-case scenario. What if he were to go blind? Here’s what I love about Steve: his mind was already at work developing a contingency plan for functioning as a blind pastor! How many of us would just hang it up if we were told we were going blind? Now Steve is FAR from being diagnosed with something this extreme, but as I said, you know how the mind works. When I think of my friend Steve, I think of a real leader. Real leaders do not allow anything, and I men anything, to deter them from their vision and calling. Even blindness.
As I have been preaching and studying through the Book of Galatians, I ran across an interesting section which focuses on Paul specifically. It is generally agreed upon by scholars that Paul suffered some sort of major physical ailment. He never just spells it out as to the nature of this ailment, but it is clear something is chronically wrong with Paul. He talks about his thorn in the flesh.
I think Paul had some sort of eye problem. At the end of Galatians, Paul emphasizes to the readers that he has written the letter with his own hand and that he was using large letters. It was very common for people in Paul’s position to dictate all their letters via a secretary. This is certainly how the majority of Paul’s letters were written. But not Galatians. Paul wanted to write this letter himself because he felt so strongly about the message and the ones receiving it. But Paul had to write with large letters. And then he has this interesting note in the book about himself:
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 4:12-15
It is clear that as Paul was on his missionary and church planting journeys that he never intended on stopping in the region of Galatia to plant a church. BUT something catastrophic happened to Paul physically and he had to stop. He was so moved by the care of these people that he bonded with them. But being Paul, he did not allow his physical problems to keep him from his vision and calling. He preached and planted churches throughout the whole region. He notes that these people would have given their own eyes to Paul because they loved him so much. This is why I think Paul had a pretty serious eye and vision problem. But Paul did not allow this amount of suffering to stop him. He led from his suffering. He led through his suffering.
That’s what my friend Steve is doing as well. That’s what leaders do.
“Lord, thank you even for my suffering and may I see it as a sign of strength and not weakness. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Leading From Suffering
I have a dear friend named Steve. He is currently serving as a pastor at a church in northwest Arkansas. Steve and I have worked together on the same staff in the past and he has functioned as a sort of mentor to me. Few people know as much about ministry and the church as my friend and brother Steve. Well, Steve called me the other day and asked for prayer. He had gone to his eye doctor for a routine exam, and about halfway through the visit, the doctor stopped and told Steve he needed to see a specialist. “Something” is going on in there. Of course, Steve is like most of us and his mind began to gravitate toward the worst-case scenario. What if he were to go blind? Here’s what I love about Steve: his mind was already at work developing a contingency plan for functioning as a blind pastor! How many of us would just hang it up if we were told we were going blind? Now Steve is FAR from being diagnosed with something this extreme, but as I said, you know how the mind works. When I think of my friend Steve, I think of a real leader. Real leaders do not allow anything, and I men anything, to deter them from their vision and calling. Even blindness.
As I have been preaching and studying through the Book of Galatians, I ran across an interesting section which focuses on Paul specifically. It is generally agreed upon by scholars that Paul suffered some sort of major physical ailment. He never just spells it out as to the nature of this ailment, but it is clear something is chronically wrong with Paul. He talks about his thorn in the flesh.
I think Paul had some sort of eye problem. At the end of Galatians, Paul emphasizes to the readers that he has written the letter with his own hand and that he was using large letters. It was very common for people in Paul’s position to dictate all their letters via a secretary. This is certainly how the majority of Paul’s letters were written. But not Galatians. Paul wanted to write this letter himself because he felt so strongly about the message and the ones receiving it. But Paul had to write with large letters. And then he has this interesting note in the book about himself:
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 4:12-15
It is clear that as Paul was on his missionary and church planting journeys that he never intended on stopping in the region of Galatia to plant a church. BUT something catastrophic happened to Paul physically and he had to stop. He was so moved by the care of these people that he bonded with them. But being Paul, he did not allow his physical problems to keep him from his vision and calling. He preached and planted churches throughout the whole region. He notes that these people would have given their own eyes to Paul because they loved him so much. This is why I think Paul had a pretty serious eye and vision problem. But Paul did not allow this amount of suffering to stop him. He led from his suffering. He led through his suffering.
That’s what my friend Steve is doing as well. That’s what leaders do.
“Lord, thank you even for my suffering and may I see it as a sign of strength and not weakness. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally published on April 13, 2009)
Easter was yesterday.
Resurrection Sunday. Perhaps the holiest day of the year on the Christian calendar. You probably went to church somewhere. You were most likely blessed with great music and an inspiring word from your pastor. The chances are you had an extra-special meal with friends or family, and if you have kids there were probably eggs involved in your afternoon. It was a good day.
But now what?
Does Easter make a difference for you today? What about tomorrow? What about next month?
The answer to that, of course, is YES. Easter makes all the difference in the world. It makes a difference in ways that most of us do not perceive until we need God. And trust me, somewhere along the path of life this next week or year, something will happen and you WILL need God. Because of Easter, God will be there, closer to you than you can imagine and in ways you never thought possible.
You see, Easter verifies that everything Jesus said was true. Without a resurrection, all we have is a dead teacher who inspired the masses while he breathed. Without resurrection, Jesus is a farce. Josh McDowell said it best: without the resurrection, Jesus was either a liar (he said he was God), a lunatic (he said he was God!), or Lord…he said he was God!! And God he is. Only God could conquer death.
And that is Easter. And trust me, it makes all the difference in the world. Take time to read these two verses from the Gospel of John that appear right after Jesus’ resurrection and his revealing of himself to his disciple, Thomas.
Passage for Reflection: John 20:30-31
Why do we tell the same story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection every single year on Easter Sunday? Because we believe that by re-telling the story, people will believe and that they will have life.
Life. Isn’t that what it is ALL about? Don’t you want to live? I mean really live? Don’t you want to experience all that this creation and life has to offer to the fullest? God wants this for you as well, and the key is Jesus. And Jesus is not only the key to life in the here and now, but Jesus is the key to life, eternal life, in the hereafter. As Paul said, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Because of Easter, because of Jesus, we are in a no-lose scenario.
The only losers are those who refuse to believe. Those who make the grave mistake of leaving Jesus in the grave! Those who insist he was only a man and who, contrary to the enormous amount of evidence, ignore the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection and look the other way. The BIG mistake is that they believe they can find life outside of God. That they know better how to define happiness and blessing. That they don’t need God or want God. For them, Easter is not a mark of triumph, but of tragedy.
“Lord, I believe in you. Thank you for life! May I never tire of telling this story so others may believe and live as well. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Easter was yesterday.
Resurrection Sunday. Perhaps the holiest day of the year on the Christian calendar. You probably went to church somewhere. You were most likely blessed with great music and an inspiring word from your pastor. The chances are you had an extra-special meal with friends or family, and if you have kids there were probably eggs involved in your afternoon. It was a good day.
But now what?
Does Easter make a difference for you today? What about tomorrow? What about next month?
The answer to that, of course, is YES. Easter makes all the difference in the world. It makes a difference in ways that most of us do not perceive until we need God. And trust me, somewhere along the path of life this next week or year, something will happen and you WILL need God. Because of Easter, God will be there, closer to you than you can imagine and in ways you never thought possible.
You see, Easter verifies that everything Jesus said was true. Without a resurrection, all we have is a dead teacher who inspired the masses while he breathed. Without resurrection, Jesus is a farce. Josh McDowell said it best: without the resurrection, Jesus was either a liar (he said he was God), a lunatic (he said he was God!), or Lord…he said he was God!! And God he is. Only God could conquer death.
And that is Easter. And trust me, it makes all the difference in the world. Take time to read these two verses from the Gospel of John that appear right after Jesus’ resurrection and his revealing of himself to his disciple, Thomas.
Passage for Reflection: John 20:30-31
Why do we tell the same story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection every single year on Easter Sunday? Because we believe that by re-telling the story, people will believe and that they will have life.
Life. Isn’t that what it is ALL about? Don’t you want to live? I mean really live? Don’t you want to experience all that this creation and life has to offer to the fullest? God wants this for you as well, and the key is Jesus. And Jesus is not only the key to life in the here and now, but Jesus is the key to life, eternal life, in the hereafter. As Paul said, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Because of Easter, because of Jesus, we are in a no-lose scenario.
The only losers are those who refuse to believe. Those who make the grave mistake of leaving Jesus in the grave! Those who insist he was only a man and who, contrary to the enormous amount of evidence, ignore the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection and look the other way. The BIG mistake is that they believe they can find life outside of God. That they know better how to define happiness and blessing. That they don’t need God or want God. For them, Easter is not a mark of triumph, but of tragedy.
“Lord, I believe in you. Thank you for life! May I never tire of telling this story so others may believe and live as well. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally published on April 6, 2009)
Straight Talk
We live in a very “politically correct” world today. This means that you have to be careful what you say for fear of offending someone. A football team can’t be the Indians because that is insensitive. If someone is caught in a lie, it is politically incorrect to say they “lied.” You must instead say they “mis-spoke” or they told an “untruth.” But to use the word “lie” is a no-no. When referring to someone of another race or skin color, there is proper terminology that must be used.
Sometimes we walk on egg shells because we don’t know exactly where the line of offense is. I recently ate lunch with a black brother in Christ. We were talking about race relations and he kept using the term “African-American.” I finally just asked him if he took offense to the term “black” when talking about “African-Americans.” He told me that he actually preferred it and that the only reason he had been using the term “African-American” during our conversation was for my benefit! He thought I might be offended for some reason.
I think that we have gone way too far with PC language in our culture. Now listen, I am in no way advocating being insensitive or purposefully offending someone. But I fear that all our PC talk keeps us focused on words and terminology and keeps us from focusing on the big issues that deserve and need our attention.
Leaders need to lead and that means we sometimes need to say it like it is. Straight talk is often not politically correct. This is one of the reasons I love the apostle Paul. The man was just a great leader, plain and simple. He said it like it was. He called people out and he even called people names if they deserved it. He was not politically correct, but he actually made a difference. His words stand out and cause us to take notice.
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 4:8-20
There are several politically incorrect aspects to Paul’s speech in this passage:
· He presumes to speak about their spiritual condition. This would never fly in today’s world. “Who are you to judge me?” is the cry of response.
· Paul is vulnerable. He speaks about a serious personal ailment or illness he suffered. Leaders today do not open up about personal weakness such as this. It’s seen as a sign of inner weakness. Paul leverages his personal weakness to lead.
· He uses coarse language. He talks about “gouging” out eyes. He uses the term “enemy” when questioning them. He calls them “children.” And truth be told, this is a mild passage for Paul. In other places in Galatians, he calls them “foolish” and “bewitched.” This would be seen as inflammatory today and I am sure it was then as well.
Take some time soon and peruse the writings of Paul as a whole and you will see politically incorrect speech all over the place. Paul was not being offensive just to be offensive, but he was calling a spade a spade. We live in serious times. It is almost seen as hate speech to speak negatively of Islam, or the homosexual lifestyle. The world most certainly wants to muzzle the voice of the Christian. Which is why it is more important than ever to seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit, to absorb ourselves in the Truth of God’s Word, and then to speak the voice of wisdom and truth…even if it’s politically incorrect.
Leadership talks straight.
“Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Straight Talk
We live in a very “politically correct” world today. This means that you have to be careful what you say for fear of offending someone. A football team can’t be the Indians because that is insensitive. If someone is caught in a lie, it is politically incorrect to say they “lied.” You must instead say they “mis-spoke” or they told an “untruth.” But to use the word “lie” is a no-no. When referring to someone of another race or skin color, there is proper terminology that must be used.
Sometimes we walk on egg shells because we don’t know exactly where the line of offense is. I recently ate lunch with a black brother in Christ. We were talking about race relations and he kept using the term “African-American.” I finally just asked him if he took offense to the term “black” when talking about “African-Americans.” He told me that he actually preferred it and that the only reason he had been using the term “African-American” during our conversation was for my benefit! He thought I might be offended for some reason.
I think that we have gone way too far with PC language in our culture. Now listen, I am in no way advocating being insensitive or purposefully offending someone. But I fear that all our PC talk keeps us focused on words and terminology and keeps us from focusing on the big issues that deserve and need our attention.
Leaders need to lead and that means we sometimes need to say it like it is. Straight talk is often not politically correct. This is one of the reasons I love the apostle Paul. The man was just a great leader, plain and simple. He said it like it was. He called people out and he even called people names if they deserved it. He was not politically correct, but he actually made a difference. His words stand out and cause us to take notice.
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 4:8-20
There are several politically incorrect aspects to Paul’s speech in this passage:
· He presumes to speak about their spiritual condition. This would never fly in today’s world. “Who are you to judge me?” is the cry of response.
· Paul is vulnerable. He speaks about a serious personal ailment or illness he suffered. Leaders today do not open up about personal weakness such as this. It’s seen as a sign of inner weakness. Paul leverages his personal weakness to lead.
· He uses coarse language. He talks about “gouging” out eyes. He uses the term “enemy” when questioning them. He calls them “children.” And truth be told, this is a mild passage for Paul. In other places in Galatians, he calls them “foolish” and “bewitched.” This would be seen as inflammatory today and I am sure it was then as well.
Take some time soon and peruse the writings of Paul as a whole and you will see politically incorrect speech all over the place. Paul was not being offensive just to be offensive, but he was calling a spade a spade. We live in serious times. It is almost seen as hate speech to speak negatively of Islam, or the homosexual lifestyle. The world most certainly wants to muzzle the voice of the Christian. Which is why it is more important than ever to seek wisdom from the Holy Spirit, to absorb ourselves in the Truth of God’s Word, and then to speak the voice of wisdom and truth…even if it’s politically incorrect.
Leadership talks straight.
“Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally published on March 30, 2009)
Leadership and Law
Have you ever thought about how many laws we live under in our “free” society? Just think about it for a minute. Driving laws, tax laws, child labor laws, wage laws, church-state laws, school laws, public health laws, food laws, and I could go on and on. Why so many laws? Why do we even have laws? The answer to that question is: because we can’t behave ourselves. Every law that is written was created because someone, somewhere couldn’t behave properly. And so a law was created that we ALL must live under because a few people couldn’t discipline themselves to do the right thing. And this process of laws continues. Right now, new laws are being drawn up because of companies like AIG and people like Bernie Madoff. Because of their actions, we will now all have to live under new laws.
Of course, for those of us who do the right thing and live with self-restraint and consider others first, most of the laws aren’t that big of a deal. I probably wouldn’t speed through my neighborhood even if there wasn’t a speed law just because it’s not safe and I don’t want to hurt anyone. But I think we all (even the best of us) need some laws because nobody is self-disciplined enough to always do the right thing. The law keeps us in check. It keeps us good. It holds back evil.
This whole discussion of the purpose of laws becomes the focal point in the Book of Galatians. I did not have time to cover this section on Sunday mornings, but it is too good to just let it pass by.
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 3:15-25
This passage makes it pretty clear. The law exists to show us just exactly how bad we are and could be. I don’t know anybody who obeys all the laws all the time. Yes, I do speed sometimes. When I was 12 I lied about my age when going to the movies so I could get in for the kid price and save a couple of bucks. The reason we break the law is because we think one of several things:
· The law is stupid and deserves to be broken,
· This is a “little” law and breaking it isn’t that big of a deal.
· I won’t get caught.
· I’m basically a good person, but nobody’s perfect.
· I don’t care about the law, my “need” is more important than the law.
· This law doesn’t apply to me.
But no matter what our reasoning, we become a criminal the moment we break the law. Just because you don’t get caught doesn’t mean you’re not guilty. And on a spiritual level, God always catches you. You can never get away with breaking God’s law. His surveillance system is second to none. And not only are you guilty, but you are apprehended.
Violators of the law must be punished to the full extent of the law. Reparations have to be made. Things must be set right. God will have it no other way. The law comes from God and the law must be satisfied. But something else also came from God. A promise. This “promise” actually preceded the law and this “promise” stands above the law. What that means is that no amount of law keeping or law breaking can override the promise of God.
What is this promise of God? That you and I can inherit God’s Kingdom. That’s right. Just like a father leaves his wealth to his children, God has promised his estate to the children of God. But you cannot enjoy the inheritance from behind bars. The law must be satisfied. And that’s where Jesus comes into the picture. He steps in for you. He takes the punishment. He satisfies the law. He grants you and me access to the Kingdom.
The law enslaves. Jesus saves.
“Lord, thank you for your law, but more importantly, thank you for your promise. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Leadership and Law
Have you ever thought about how many laws we live under in our “free” society? Just think about it for a minute. Driving laws, tax laws, child labor laws, wage laws, church-state laws, school laws, public health laws, food laws, and I could go on and on. Why so many laws? Why do we even have laws? The answer to that question is: because we can’t behave ourselves. Every law that is written was created because someone, somewhere couldn’t behave properly. And so a law was created that we ALL must live under because a few people couldn’t discipline themselves to do the right thing. And this process of laws continues. Right now, new laws are being drawn up because of companies like AIG and people like Bernie Madoff. Because of their actions, we will now all have to live under new laws.
Of course, for those of us who do the right thing and live with self-restraint and consider others first, most of the laws aren’t that big of a deal. I probably wouldn’t speed through my neighborhood even if there wasn’t a speed law just because it’s not safe and I don’t want to hurt anyone. But I think we all (even the best of us) need some laws because nobody is self-disciplined enough to always do the right thing. The law keeps us in check. It keeps us good. It holds back evil.
This whole discussion of the purpose of laws becomes the focal point in the Book of Galatians. I did not have time to cover this section on Sunday mornings, but it is too good to just let it pass by.
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 3:15-25
This passage makes it pretty clear. The law exists to show us just exactly how bad we are and could be. I don’t know anybody who obeys all the laws all the time. Yes, I do speed sometimes. When I was 12 I lied about my age when going to the movies so I could get in for the kid price and save a couple of bucks. The reason we break the law is because we think one of several things:
· The law is stupid and deserves to be broken,
· This is a “little” law and breaking it isn’t that big of a deal.
· I won’t get caught.
· I’m basically a good person, but nobody’s perfect.
· I don’t care about the law, my “need” is more important than the law.
· This law doesn’t apply to me.
But no matter what our reasoning, we become a criminal the moment we break the law. Just because you don’t get caught doesn’t mean you’re not guilty. And on a spiritual level, God always catches you. You can never get away with breaking God’s law. His surveillance system is second to none. And not only are you guilty, but you are apprehended.
Violators of the law must be punished to the full extent of the law. Reparations have to be made. Things must be set right. God will have it no other way. The law comes from God and the law must be satisfied. But something else also came from God. A promise. This “promise” actually preceded the law and this “promise” stands above the law. What that means is that no amount of law keeping or law breaking can override the promise of God.
What is this promise of God? That you and I can inherit God’s Kingdom. That’s right. Just like a father leaves his wealth to his children, God has promised his estate to the children of God. But you cannot enjoy the inheritance from behind bars. The law must be satisfied. And that’s where Jesus comes into the picture. He steps in for you. He takes the punishment. He satisfies the law. He grants you and me access to the Kingdom.
The law enslaves. Jesus saves.
“Lord, thank you for your law, but more importantly, thank you for your promise. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Oringinally published on March 23, 2009)
Leadership and Legalism
I have been teaching through a series on Sunday mornings on the Book of Galatians. It is a small book, only six chapters in length. But this little letter that Paul wrote to a group of churches he had planted is packed full of hard-hitting truth. I have found that I simply do not have the time on Sunday mornings to cover all the material. So what I would like to do during our time on Monday mornings is offer some of this additional material to you via devotional thought.
The focus of the Book of Galatians is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This very simple message had been distorted in the Galatian churches, and Paul himself had come under attack for preaching an incomplete gospel. I say incomplete, because Paul preached Jesus and Jesus alone. Other people had come into the church and begun to preach that in order to be saved, you must believe in Jesus PLUS follow Jewish laws. Salvation is not by faith alone, they claimed, but by faith AND works. What Paul spoke vigorously against was this legalism: that you must follow a set of man-made rules in order verify your love for Jesus and to prove your salvation.
Legalism is alive and well even today. In fact, I have fallen victim to its terror and I am sure you have too. I will even admit that at a time early on in my faith, I myself became a persecutor of legalism. I am ashamed to this day that I fell into this trap and pushed it on others. But legalism is a powerful influencer. It can get the best of us. Just read this passage:
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 2:11-21
As you can see, even the great Peter, disciple of Christ, member of the inner circle of three (Peter, James and John) fell victim to legalism, and Paul had to call him out on it. Legalism is nothing more than submitting to man-made rules in order to please and be accepted by others who seem to be more spiritual than yourself. There is also a big-time fear factor involved in legalism. We know that if we don’t submit to the spiritual police, that they will single us out for ridicule. We will be labeled as back-slidden, liberal, unholy, unspiritual, take your pick. Like I said, you’ve probably endured the scorn of legalism yourself.
But just notice how Paul dealt with the whole legalism issue. He called it out. He didn’t back down. He didn’t submit. He didn’t cave. He didn’t remain silent. He went head-to-head with the legalist. And it cost him. He suffered their scorn and attacks. We see just previous to this passage how he had to go to Jerusalem and stand trial to vindicate his preaching. But Paul did it because he understood that when legalism wins, the Gospel of Jesus loses. And the Gospel can never lose. It is more important than our egos or reputations. The Gospel must always win.
Now that’s leadership!
“Lord, I pledge to defend the Gospel of Jesus at all cost. Even at the cost of my own reputation. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Leadership and Legalism
I have been teaching through a series on Sunday mornings on the Book of Galatians. It is a small book, only six chapters in length. But this little letter that Paul wrote to a group of churches he had planted is packed full of hard-hitting truth. I have found that I simply do not have the time on Sunday mornings to cover all the material. So what I would like to do during our time on Monday mornings is offer some of this additional material to you via devotional thought.
The focus of the Book of Galatians is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This very simple message had been distorted in the Galatian churches, and Paul himself had come under attack for preaching an incomplete gospel. I say incomplete, because Paul preached Jesus and Jesus alone. Other people had come into the church and begun to preach that in order to be saved, you must believe in Jesus PLUS follow Jewish laws. Salvation is not by faith alone, they claimed, but by faith AND works. What Paul spoke vigorously against was this legalism: that you must follow a set of man-made rules in order verify your love for Jesus and to prove your salvation.
Legalism is alive and well even today. In fact, I have fallen victim to its terror and I am sure you have too. I will even admit that at a time early on in my faith, I myself became a persecutor of legalism. I am ashamed to this day that I fell into this trap and pushed it on others. But legalism is a powerful influencer. It can get the best of us. Just read this passage:
Passage for Reflection: Galatians 2:11-21
As you can see, even the great Peter, disciple of Christ, member of the inner circle of three (Peter, James and John) fell victim to legalism, and Paul had to call him out on it. Legalism is nothing more than submitting to man-made rules in order to please and be accepted by others who seem to be more spiritual than yourself. There is also a big-time fear factor involved in legalism. We know that if we don’t submit to the spiritual police, that they will single us out for ridicule. We will be labeled as back-slidden, liberal, unholy, unspiritual, take your pick. Like I said, you’ve probably endured the scorn of legalism yourself.
But just notice how Paul dealt with the whole legalism issue. He called it out. He didn’t back down. He didn’t submit. He didn’t cave. He didn’t remain silent. He went head-to-head with the legalist. And it cost him. He suffered their scorn and attacks. We see just previous to this passage how he had to go to Jerusalem and stand trial to vindicate his preaching. But Paul did it because he understood that when legalism wins, the Gospel of Jesus loses. And the Gospel can never lose. It is more important than our egos or reputations. The Gospel must always win.
Now that’s leadership!
“Lord, I pledge to defend the Gospel of Jesus at all cost. Even at the cost of my own reputation. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally published on March 16, 2009)
Leadership in Crisis
Our country is in economic crisis. In just the few short weeks since President Obama took office, $3 trillion in wealth has been lost. You can own a share of General Motors right now for under 2 bucks! Crisis. And that word may not due justice to the current situation in our country.
So what’s a leader to do?
This is when I am glad that I am a Christian. Because I follow Jesus, these words of his from the Book of Matthew have more meaning for me today than they did a year ago.
Passage for Reflection:
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Isn’t it true? Earthly treasure, whether it be a house, car, stock, IRA, 401(k), etc., is never a sure thing. A fire can burn your house just like it did a family in our neighborhood last month. A thief can force your garage door open and steal your car just like what happened to another family in our neighborhood last year. And in what seems like the blink of an eye, you can watch the accumulated wealth of a life time just simply disappear as the stock market tumbles out of control. Just like that, all gone. So what do you do? Rebuild, file an insurance claim and go car shopping, and in many cases, delay retirement. What else can you do? Some people give up and call it quits. Kill themselves. Sounds crazy but some people are so tied to their earthly treasure that when it goes, so do they.
But we are Christians. That’s supposed to mean something. There are NO guarantees in this life. There are good seasons and bad. There are wet times and dry. There are times of wealth and times of poverty. That’s life. And that is exactly why we need something more.
So what’s a leader to do? A Christian leader points people in a new direction. A heavenly direction. To do this you first have to quit worrying about yourself. I promise, God will take care of you. He always does. No promises on retirement age or anything like that, but God will cover your needs. If you can have faith in that, then you can possibly be of some use to others in times such as these. People are looking for answers. They still want and need to invest, but investing in heaven is a very different thing than investing on earth.
So take some time this week to think on these things. What exactly does “laying up treasure in heaven” look like? There’s really no such thing as a “safe” safe on earth. Wealth can disappear in the snap of a finger. But that which is invested in heaven is not only safe, but will return unimaginable dividends.
Invest in heaven. It’s the only sure thing.
Blessings,
Jeff
Leadership in Crisis
Our country is in economic crisis. In just the few short weeks since President Obama took office, $3 trillion in wealth has been lost. You can own a share of General Motors right now for under 2 bucks! Crisis. And that word may not due justice to the current situation in our country.
So what’s a leader to do?
This is when I am glad that I am a Christian. Because I follow Jesus, these words of his from the Book of Matthew have more meaning for me today than they did a year ago.
Passage for Reflection:
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Isn’t it true? Earthly treasure, whether it be a house, car, stock, IRA, 401(k), etc., is never a sure thing. A fire can burn your house just like it did a family in our neighborhood last month. A thief can force your garage door open and steal your car just like what happened to another family in our neighborhood last year. And in what seems like the blink of an eye, you can watch the accumulated wealth of a life time just simply disappear as the stock market tumbles out of control. Just like that, all gone. So what do you do? Rebuild, file an insurance claim and go car shopping, and in many cases, delay retirement. What else can you do? Some people give up and call it quits. Kill themselves. Sounds crazy but some people are so tied to their earthly treasure that when it goes, so do they.
But we are Christians. That’s supposed to mean something. There are NO guarantees in this life. There are good seasons and bad. There are wet times and dry. There are times of wealth and times of poverty. That’s life. And that is exactly why we need something more.
So what’s a leader to do? A Christian leader points people in a new direction. A heavenly direction. To do this you first have to quit worrying about yourself. I promise, God will take care of you. He always does. No promises on retirement age or anything like that, but God will cover your needs. If you can have faith in that, then you can possibly be of some use to others in times such as these. People are looking for answers. They still want and need to invest, but investing in heaven is a very different thing than investing on earth.
So take some time this week to think on these things. What exactly does “laying up treasure in heaven” look like? There’s really no such thing as a “safe” safe on earth. Wealth can disappear in the snap of a finger. But that which is invested in heaven is not only safe, but will return unimaginable dividends.
Invest in heaven. It’s the only sure thing.
Blessings,
Jeff
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally published on March 9, 2009)
Leadership Approval
I ran out of time on Sunday before I finished preaching on the text I had chosen. I am preaching through the Book of Galatians and I launched the series focusing on the first 10 verses of chapter 1. But I only made it through verse 9. As I looked over my notes after I preached both services Sunday morning, I thought that verse 10 would make an excellent focal point for our devotional time on Mondays.
Passage for Reflection:
Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Let’s begin with a question: Is the greatest threat to the church from without or within?
As Christians, we tend to focus on all the perceived external threats to our faith. The growth of Islam, separation of church and state, media attacks on Christian faith, evolution in public schools, etc.
The sad truth is that churches die everyday. In fact, 3500 churches will close their doors just this year. And while it may seem like I’m going out on a limb with this next statement, I don’t think that I am when I say that without exception, all of these churches will collapse from within and not from without.
I believe that the greatest threat to any church is from the inside. Let’s not forget that it was Judas that finally got to Jesus. I also believe that churches collapse due to a failure of leadership. More specifically: when leadership seeks to please people instead of pleasing God. You see, God will never allow His will to be upstaged by the will of the people. Never. But in many churches, people put their wishes, their desires, their will, first. It’s sort of in our nature to be selfish like that. That’s where leadership needs to step in and step up and point people to the will of God first. Oh, the battles can be great. The will of “we the people” can be compelling. There are many church leaders who don’t have the stomach for the battle and who cave to becoming people pleasers. But I have learned one big problem with trying to please people – it just can’t be done. As a pastor, I can tell you that at any given time, there is always someone who is not happy with me (and that is putting it mildly). I have never been able to please all of the people all of the time. As I said, even Jesus was just 11 for 12. It is in the nature of people to be dissatisfied. We just like to point fingers and play armchair quarterback.
This is why God’s will has to win. This is why we turn to the Bible for instructions on how to behave and treat one another. God is clear on what He expects. When His will wins, the church wins, we win, you win. My experience is that when I put God first – when I seek to please Him and not man – I can lead with confidence. And here is what I know: if someone is not happy with me, it’s really not me they have a problem with, it’s God. Jesus even said that if they hate you, know that they hated me first (John 15:18). This means that the unhappy person will be unhappy no matter what. That means you need to pity them and pray for them, but do not attempt to please them.
“Lord, give me the strength to seek after your approval and not man’s. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Leadership Approval
I ran out of time on Sunday before I finished preaching on the text I had chosen. I am preaching through the Book of Galatians and I launched the series focusing on the first 10 verses of chapter 1. But I only made it through verse 9. As I looked over my notes after I preached both services Sunday morning, I thought that verse 10 would make an excellent focal point for our devotional time on Mondays.
Passage for Reflection:
Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Let’s begin with a question: Is the greatest threat to the church from without or within?
As Christians, we tend to focus on all the perceived external threats to our faith. The growth of Islam, separation of church and state, media attacks on Christian faith, evolution in public schools, etc.
The sad truth is that churches die everyday. In fact, 3500 churches will close their doors just this year. And while it may seem like I’m going out on a limb with this next statement, I don’t think that I am when I say that without exception, all of these churches will collapse from within and not from without.
I believe that the greatest threat to any church is from the inside. Let’s not forget that it was Judas that finally got to Jesus. I also believe that churches collapse due to a failure of leadership. More specifically: when leadership seeks to please people instead of pleasing God. You see, God will never allow His will to be upstaged by the will of the people. Never. But in many churches, people put their wishes, their desires, their will, first. It’s sort of in our nature to be selfish like that. That’s where leadership needs to step in and step up and point people to the will of God first. Oh, the battles can be great. The will of “we the people” can be compelling. There are many church leaders who don’t have the stomach for the battle and who cave to becoming people pleasers. But I have learned one big problem with trying to please people – it just can’t be done. As a pastor, I can tell you that at any given time, there is always someone who is not happy with me (and that is putting it mildly). I have never been able to please all of the people all of the time. As I said, even Jesus was just 11 for 12. It is in the nature of people to be dissatisfied. We just like to point fingers and play armchair quarterback.
This is why God’s will has to win. This is why we turn to the Bible for instructions on how to behave and treat one another. God is clear on what He expects. When His will wins, the church wins, we win, you win. My experience is that when I put God first – when I seek to please Him and not man – I can lead with confidence. And here is what I know: if someone is not happy with me, it’s really not me they have a problem with, it’s God. Jesus even said that if they hate you, know that they hated me first (John 15:18). This means that the unhappy person will be unhappy no matter what. That means you need to pity them and pray for them, but do not attempt to please them.
“Lord, give me the strength to seek after your approval and not man’s. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Orininally published on March 2, 2009)
Religious Leadership in an A-Religious World
Methodist bishop William Willimon was the Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University for 23 years. He recently recalled the days of the late Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority and his extension to Rev. Falwell to come and speak at Duke.
Once word got out of Falwell’s imminent arrival, a firestorm blew up on campus. The school’s newspaper led with the headline Dean of the Chapel Invites Notorious Homophobe Christian to Duke. The school’s Lesbian-Bisexual-Pre-Operative and Post-Operative Transgendered Alliance called for Willimon’s resignation and the school administration questioned the wisdom of the invitation for Falwell to speak. Feeling that perhaps the whole visit was a bad idea, Willimon contacted Falwell to explain that Duke would only be able to cover his travel expenses and that there would not be an honorarium. Falwell responded that this was not a problem and that he was just honored to be able to speak at such a fine institution as Duke. He even went on to explain that he would be coming in his own private jet and would thus take care of his own travel expenses. Duke would be out nothing.
On the day of the trip, a thunderstorm was brewing in the area, but Falwell called Willimon to assure him that the pilot felt confident they could still make the trip and that he would be on campus on schedule. Willimon began to wonder what it would take for Falwell to not show up!
When Falwell arrived on campus, he was overly gracious, kind and warm. Willimon thought this was Jerry’s way of disarming his audience before blasting them with his fundamental rhetoric.
When the pair arrived at the school auditorium it was a packed house and it was a hostile crowd. “This is going to be a long night,” Willimon thought. As Falwell was introduced and took the stage, boos and hisses rained down on him from the student body. Smiling from ear to ear, Jerry Falwell spoke of the honor it was to be at a Christian university such as Duke. He explained that he wanted to speak on the role of faith in higher education. He spoke of the Christian roots of not only Duke but also schools like Harvard and Princeton and he pointed out that we have the church to thank for these fine schools. As Falwell went on for over 30 minutes, the boos and hisses died down and the students began to grow weary. When Falwell finished, he invited questions and open conversation from the floor. Now it was going to get interesting. The first student to the microphone was an African-American young woman. Her question was thus, “I can’t stand your right-wing, narrow-mindedness. You say you are a Christian, but you preach hate. How many African-Americans do you have at your Liberty University?” The crowd erupted with jeers.
Falwell paused, wiped his brow, and said, “Young lady, you could not have asked a question that hurts me more deeply. In asking about minority student enrollment, you have named my most regrettable failure at Liberty University. I have prayed, I have worked, I have been throughout this country attempting to recruit ethnic minority students, and though we have had greater success among some ethnic minority groups, I am sad to report that our enrollment today stands at only about 12 percent African-Americans.” As the audience hissed, Falwell continued, “Of course, we are a very young university, less than a decade in existence. We have such a small endowment. But how can I be sure that I am not simply deceiving myself? I am unwilling to accept excuses for our infidelity in regard to our ministry with African-Americans. Just the other day I was pouring my heart out on this very matter to Coretta — you know, Coretta Scott King, we try to get together every few months, she is a wonderful person — and she told me not to be so consumed with this problem. But I can’t help myself.”
Willimon recalled that at the mention of Coretta’s name, the audience became eerily quiet.
“Do you know, by the way, how many African Americans are enrolled here at Duke?” he asked. No response.
“I’ll tell you. Six percent. Six percent! Your endowment is 50 times bigger than ours. You have had years to work on this issue (though admittedly you spent half of your life as a racially segregated school). In fact, I struggled with whether the Lord wanted me to come here tonight to a school that, though you have been given great gifts, has such a poor record of minority enrollment. I pray that you will let the Lord help you do better in this area.” Dead silence throughout the packed auditorium.
As the evening went on, Falwell answered every question with grace and eloquence. In the end, he actually received a final and warm round of applause.
I share this story with you because I admire Jerry Falwell and believe our world suffered a loss at his passing. He was a modern day prophet. An Elijah.
Passage for Reflection: 1 Kings 18
The world needs more Elijahs and more Jerry Falwells. Prophets lead by pointing a nation back to God that seeks to run from God. That’s what Elijah did with King Ahab and that is what Jerry Falwell did with the United States. Do prophets undergo criticism and rejection? You bet! Jerry Falwell was hated and despised. That is why most people don’t want to lead the way he led. But as Christians we are called to shine the light in the darkness. You may never find yourself on the national stage that Jerry Falwell or Elijah found themselves on, but what about your world, your city, your community? Where do you see darkness? Where do you see the need for light? Should Christians be involved politically and civically? Or should we stay within the box that the world seeks to put us in? I think you know the answer.
Our world, city, town, neighborhood need spiritual and religious leadership.
“Lord, I pray that I would be brave enough to shine in the darkness. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Note: To listen to a recent sermon I preached on 1 Kings 18 and on the prophet Elijah, click here.
Religious Leadership in an A-Religious World
Methodist bishop William Willimon was the Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University for 23 years. He recently recalled the days of the late Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority and his extension to Rev. Falwell to come and speak at Duke.
Once word got out of Falwell’s imminent arrival, a firestorm blew up on campus. The school’s newspaper led with the headline Dean of the Chapel Invites Notorious Homophobe Christian to Duke. The school’s Lesbian-Bisexual-Pre-Operative and Post-Operative Transgendered Alliance called for Willimon’s resignation and the school administration questioned the wisdom of the invitation for Falwell to speak. Feeling that perhaps the whole visit was a bad idea, Willimon contacted Falwell to explain that Duke would only be able to cover his travel expenses and that there would not be an honorarium. Falwell responded that this was not a problem and that he was just honored to be able to speak at such a fine institution as Duke. He even went on to explain that he would be coming in his own private jet and would thus take care of his own travel expenses. Duke would be out nothing.
On the day of the trip, a thunderstorm was brewing in the area, but Falwell called Willimon to assure him that the pilot felt confident they could still make the trip and that he would be on campus on schedule. Willimon began to wonder what it would take for Falwell to not show up!
When Falwell arrived on campus, he was overly gracious, kind and warm. Willimon thought this was Jerry’s way of disarming his audience before blasting them with his fundamental rhetoric.
When the pair arrived at the school auditorium it was a packed house and it was a hostile crowd. “This is going to be a long night,” Willimon thought. As Falwell was introduced and took the stage, boos and hisses rained down on him from the student body. Smiling from ear to ear, Jerry Falwell spoke of the honor it was to be at a Christian university such as Duke. He explained that he wanted to speak on the role of faith in higher education. He spoke of the Christian roots of not only Duke but also schools like Harvard and Princeton and he pointed out that we have the church to thank for these fine schools. As Falwell went on for over 30 minutes, the boos and hisses died down and the students began to grow weary. When Falwell finished, he invited questions and open conversation from the floor. Now it was going to get interesting. The first student to the microphone was an African-American young woman. Her question was thus, “I can’t stand your right-wing, narrow-mindedness. You say you are a Christian, but you preach hate. How many African-Americans do you have at your Liberty University?” The crowd erupted with jeers.
Falwell paused, wiped his brow, and said, “Young lady, you could not have asked a question that hurts me more deeply. In asking about minority student enrollment, you have named my most regrettable failure at Liberty University. I have prayed, I have worked, I have been throughout this country attempting to recruit ethnic minority students, and though we have had greater success among some ethnic minority groups, I am sad to report that our enrollment today stands at only about 12 percent African-Americans.” As the audience hissed, Falwell continued, “Of course, we are a very young university, less than a decade in existence. We have such a small endowment. But how can I be sure that I am not simply deceiving myself? I am unwilling to accept excuses for our infidelity in regard to our ministry with African-Americans. Just the other day I was pouring my heart out on this very matter to Coretta — you know, Coretta Scott King, we try to get together every few months, she is a wonderful person — and she told me not to be so consumed with this problem. But I can’t help myself.”
Willimon recalled that at the mention of Coretta’s name, the audience became eerily quiet.
“Do you know, by the way, how many African Americans are enrolled here at Duke?” he asked. No response.
“I’ll tell you. Six percent. Six percent! Your endowment is 50 times bigger than ours. You have had years to work on this issue (though admittedly you spent half of your life as a racially segregated school). In fact, I struggled with whether the Lord wanted me to come here tonight to a school that, though you have been given great gifts, has such a poor record of minority enrollment. I pray that you will let the Lord help you do better in this area.” Dead silence throughout the packed auditorium.
As the evening went on, Falwell answered every question with grace and eloquence. In the end, he actually received a final and warm round of applause.
I share this story with you because I admire Jerry Falwell and believe our world suffered a loss at his passing. He was a modern day prophet. An Elijah.
Passage for Reflection: 1 Kings 18
The world needs more Elijahs and more Jerry Falwells. Prophets lead by pointing a nation back to God that seeks to run from God. That’s what Elijah did with King Ahab and that is what Jerry Falwell did with the United States. Do prophets undergo criticism and rejection? You bet! Jerry Falwell was hated and despised. That is why most people don’t want to lead the way he led. But as Christians we are called to shine the light in the darkness. You may never find yourself on the national stage that Jerry Falwell or Elijah found themselves on, but what about your world, your city, your community? Where do you see darkness? Where do you see the need for light? Should Christians be involved politically and civically? Or should we stay within the box that the world seeks to put us in? I think you know the answer.
Our world, city, town, neighborhood need spiritual and religious leadership.
“Lord, I pray that I would be brave enough to shine in the darkness. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Note: To listen to a recent sermon I preached on 1 Kings 18 and on the prophet Elijah, click here.
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally published on February 23, 2009)
Who Leads the Leader?
The term leader tends to be a terminal word in our minds. What I mean is that when you think of a leader, you think of the top dog. There’s nobody higher up the food chain than the leader, right? But this is the kind of thinking that will get you into trouble. As human beings, we are not capable of maintaining sole occupancy of the top of the ladder. Sin will always get in the way. Pride will always corrupt. Just look around at the state of our economy in America. How many stories have we heard of top execs who thought they were at the top of the food chain and thus untouchable. They could write the rules any way they wanted and nobody could do anything about it because they were the leader. This is how it will always be because we are human.
So today, with this in mind, I ask the question: Who leads the leader? You see, leadership is not terminal. Every leader must submit to the authority of another. Even the President of the United States submits to the will of the people and the Constitution. As a pastor, I submit to the Board of Overseers. When you do not know who leads you, then your own leadership is doomed.
Passage for Reflection: Numbers 22
I preached recently on this passage and my focus was on the mysterious figure of Balaam. Balaam was a leader of sorts. We are told that another great leader, King Balak of the Moabite empire, sent for Balaam. Balaam lived over 400 miles away, which means that from an ancient perspective, he was a celebrity. His fame as a prophet-for-hire was worldwide. Balaam was good at what he did and he knew it. His price was high and results were guaranteed. The kind of success that Balaam experienced professionally can lead one to think they are untouchable, that they need not submit to anyone’s authority. King Balak was seeking to purchase a curse upon God’s people so that he could defeat them in battle. What is interesting is that God inserts Himself into the story to stop Balaam. This ultimately leads to Balaam’s greatest leadership error. Balaam convinced himself that his leadership was absolute and terminal. That there was no one higher than him that he needed to submit to. He determined to do it his way and to collect his fee. Only when God sent an angel to kill him and his life was saved by his donkey did Balaam get it…for a season. If you read on, you will discover that Balaam went back to the self-deception that HE was the top dog, the one that got to make the rules and call the shots. In a way, his leadership was terminal because his actions led to his own death via the sword.
Focal Point: All great leaders are themselves led by another.
What we are missing in our leadership theory is what I call a theology of leadership. Ultimately, God is the only “top dog.” Only God occupies the top of the ladder, the head of the food chain, only He is the King of the mountain. God is the ONLY one who need not submit to the authority of another. A theology of leadership says that not only do I submit to God’s leadership, but my most significant task as a leader is to point people to the leadership of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Leader of Leaders.
So who leads the leader? Who leads you?
“Lord, I deny myself, and take up my cross daily, and follow you, my leader. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Note: To listen to my sermon on Numbers 22 and on Balaam, click here.
Who Leads the Leader?
The term leader tends to be a terminal word in our minds. What I mean is that when you think of a leader, you think of the top dog. There’s nobody higher up the food chain than the leader, right? But this is the kind of thinking that will get you into trouble. As human beings, we are not capable of maintaining sole occupancy of the top of the ladder. Sin will always get in the way. Pride will always corrupt. Just look around at the state of our economy in America. How many stories have we heard of top execs who thought they were at the top of the food chain and thus untouchable. They could write the rules any way they wanted and nobody could do anything about it because they were the leader. This is how it will always be because we are human.
So today, with this in mind, I ask the question: Who leads the leader? You see, leadership is not terminal. Every leader must submit to the authority of another. Even the President of the United States submits to the will of the people and the Constitution. As a pastor, I submit to the Board of Overseers. When you do not know who leads you, then your own leadership is doomed.
Passage for Reflection: Numbers 22
I preached recently on this passage and my focus was on the mysterious figure of Balaam. Balaam was a leader of sorts. We are told that another great leader, King Balak of the Moabite empire, sent for Balaam. Balaam lived over 400 miles away, which means that from an ancient perspective, he was a celebrity. His fame as a prophet-for-hire was worldwide. Balaam was good at what he did and he knew it. His price was high and results were guaranteed. The kind of success that Balaam experienced professionally can lead one to think they are untouchable, that they need not submit to anyone’s authority. King Balak was seeking to purchase a curse upon God’s people so that he could defeat them in battle. What is interesting is that God inserts Himself into the story to stop Balaam. This ultimately leads to Balaam’s greatest leadership error. Balaam convinced himself that his leadership was absolute and terminal. That there was no one higher than him that he needed to submit to. He determined to do it his way and to collect his fee. Only when God sent an angel to kill him and his life was saved by his donkey did Balaam get it…for a season. If you read on, you will discover that Balaam went back to the self-deception that HE was the top dog, the one that got to make the rules and call the shots. In a way, his leadership was terminal because his actions led to his own death via the sword.
Focal Point: All great leaders are themselves led by another.
What we are missing in our leadership theory is what I call a theology of leadership. Ultimately, God is the only “top dog.” Only God occupies the top of the ladder, the head of the food chain, only He is the King of the mountain. God is the ONLY one who need not submit to the authority of another. A theology of leadership says that not only do I submit to God’s leadership, but my most significant task as a leader is to point people to the leadership of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Leader of Leaders.
So who leads the leader? Who leads you?
“Lord, I deny myself, and take up my cross daily, and follow you, my leader. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Note: To listen to my sermon on Numbers 22 and on Balaam, click here.
Monday Morning Leadership Devo
(Originally Published on February 16, 2009)
Leadership Lessons from Daniel
Sometime ago, I preached a sermon on the sixth chapter of the Book of Daniel. What I did not have time to go into from the pulpit I want to share with this email list. You see, a close look at the life of Daniel reveals tremendous insight into Christian leadership.
Passage for Reflection: Daniel 6
Notice in the first few verses, that Daniel was in line to become, literally, the number two leader of the world. Second only to King Darius. The Bible even calls him President Daniel. Most people equate importance with busyness. The busier I am the more important I am. You get the idea. So how busy do you think Daniel must have been? To have arrived at the doorstep of the number two leader of the world would have required a lot of hard work. Early mornings, long days and late nights. Busy is busy no matter what year is on the calendar. But the first thing that strikes me about Daniel is that he was never too busy for God. At about the mid-point of this chapter, we see that Daniel makes it a habit to pray to God three times a day from his private residence. It is clear that this is something Daniel does everyday, no matter what. Think about that a moment. No matter what was going on in President Daniel’s schedule, he would stop and spend time with God. Once in the morning, once at the noonday, and once in the afternoon. You get the feeling that Daniel made sure his schedule fit around God instead of fitting God around his schedule.
So what do you think? Did Daniel rise to such a position of influence and leadership in spite of his relationship with God, or because of it?
I think the temptation for all of us is this: the busier we become and the more that God gives us to lead and influence, the greater the likelihood that God will be the first to go. We just become too busy. Other things become more important. Appointments, tasks, emails, phone calls, business trips, other people. While these things are important, they can never supplant God. God must always remain the focal point of who we are as Christians. Everything else must fit around Him.
Another thing I see in the passage is this. Daniel’s relationship with God eventually became the focal point of the confrontation between him and his boss, King Darius. Daniel was called out and forced to make a choice between work and God. He was told he could not have both. So what do we learn from Daniel? When forced into this kind of choice, God must always win. God over and above all else. Period. For Daniel, this decision would seemingly lead to his death, but he chose God anyway. Most likely you and I will never be in this position. But it is likely that we will all find ourselves at some point, through some set of circumstances, having to choose between God or another. Remember, God always wins.
“Lord, I proclaim that you are first in my life. Today and always. Amen.”
Blessings,
Jeff
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)