Servant Leadership

Focus verses: Mark 10:35-45

The Christian life is not about celebrities and superstars. It is about service to the Kingdom of God.

In this passage, Jesus plainly tells the disciples that self-aggrandizing ambition has no place among His followers. He who would be great must be the servant of all. Merit comes from service, not ladder-climbing.

How different that is from the way our world looks at things. One is expected to be climbing the ladder of success at all times - amassing more and more money - acquiring more and more power and influence. All of those things are useless in the Kingdom of God.

We need to be careful whom we follow. There are multiple teachers in the world. Some of them are truly serious about spreading the Word of God. Others have found a sinecure for lining their pockets.

At one point I was asked my opinion of a particular preacher of a specific denomination. I told the person asking me "There is quite a difference between shepherding a flock and building a resume. Unfortunately, I believe this person is the latter, not the former."

Our airwaves are full of preachers and teachers. Many are faithful servants of Christ -- but unfortunately, some are only building a resume and lining their pockets.

When you hear teaching, lay it up beside the scriptures and test it point by point. If it lines up with the Word of God exactly, it is good teaching. If it deviates - even by just a hair - dismiss it.

Learning is like walking down a path. Jesus said the way is narrow and straight. If you walk a seemingly parallel path that deviates by just one degree from His path, you will eventually be so far away that it requires a massive trek to return.

And did you notice that immediately after the teaching about the narrow way, He cautions about false prophets. The two are nearly inseparable.

Father, God,

Help us to recognize Your servant leaders when we see and hear them. Protect us from falling into the hands of false prophets. Strengthen us for service in Your Kingdom.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

The Meaning of Life

Focus verses: Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

Solomon's wisdom is summed up in these two verses. He has gone through it all. Pleasure, pain, work, leisure, poverty, wealth. He has seen it all and done it all. And he comes to this conclusion.

Now all has been heard,
here is the conclusion of the matter.
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
whether it is good or evil.

Nothing has value except for the eternal. Your obedience to God is your ultimate service and the only thing that will matter in the end. Anything else is just smoke in the wind.

We have daily duties without eternal value, the mundanities of tending the physical realm around us. Meals must be prepared, dishes done, laundry tended, lawns mowed, carpets vacuumed. We could go on and on. But these items are not to consume us.

Fearing God and keeping his commandments should be the substance of our days. That is all that will make a difference in the end.

Father, God,

Keep us ever mindful that You are the focus of our lives. Help us to remain undistracted by the everyday and to focus on You as the center of our lives.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

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First Born or Chosen

Focus verses: Numbers: 3:5-13

The Lord set apart the first born of Israel when he struck down the first born of Egypt. He claimed them all for himself. But instead of taking the first born of each Israelite family to serve in the temple, He chose the sons of Levi, the third born.

God chooses whom He pleases. He has chosen you for something special.

So what are you doing right now? To what service has He called you?

If you don't know, stop and look at what you like to do. The Bible says He will give you the desires of your heart. I believe that means more than just making a wish list and expecting the things you wish for to drop into your lap without effort.

I believe that if you desire to please God, He will put desires in your heart that please Himself. He will give you an aptitude for the work He has assigned to you. And when you do this work, it will give you a deep sense of joy and fulfillment.

Remember that you have been chosen. Your position does not rely on an accident of birth. God has chosen you for something special.

Father, God,

Open our eyes and ears to hear Your call upon our lives. Make us swift in obedience and faithful in service.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.