Thursday, November 29, 2012

bringing out the best


Community — bringing out the best in people
A 5C devotional for healthy leader development

One of the ways to bring out the best in people is to believe the best about them.  “Love always looks for the best . . .” 1 Corinthians  13:7 MSG.  
Focus on the person’s potential in Christ not on his or her problems or failures.  Make this the platform for which you develop your relationships and deal with difficult issues. 
Read the following:  
            God’s attitude toward us — Rom 8:29-30
            Jesus’ attitude toward Simon-Peter — John 1:42, Luke 22: 31-32                           
            God’s attitude toward fearful Gideon — Judges 6:11-12
            God’s attitude toward diffident Moses — Exodus 4:10-12

Challenging Assignment:
Add to this list of God’s attitude towards other biblical characters and how He worked with them.   Do a character study of Barnabas from the book of Acts and Epistles and observe his attitude towards those he interacted with.  Find a Barnabas in your life and hang out with him or her for a period of time to see how they bring out the best in people.  Go do the same. 
Enjoy the day by bring out the best in people.

Monday, November 19, 2012

maintaing a clear conscience — COMMUNITY

A devotional for the 5C's of Healthy Leader Development


Paul writes - I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefather did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,  1 Timothy 2:3.

The word clear means, clean or pure, as in unmixed motives. This does not mean that Paul was perfect or always had it all together. Having a clear conscience means that when we offend God or someone, we don’t ignore it or deny it but we get it right either by seeking forgiveness, restitution or both so that we are free from hurt or harm.

Maintaining a clear conscience will be a way of life for us (so we better get used to it) and it is essential in building a strong community.

Keep your heart moist before the Lord and like the Apostle Paul, do your best to maintain a clear conscience toward both God and man, Acts 24:16.

Years ago a friend of mine was plagued with and dealing with false guilt.  There is such a thing as real guilt and false guilt. In fact false guilt feels the same as real guilt.  False guilt occurs when our heart still condemns us even though we have confessed our sin and received forgiveness from Jesus.  But God is greater than your heart, so turn your eyes from your sin and stop trying to defend yourself against the accusations that bubble up.  Instead, turn your eyes to the Cross of Christ and see the loving sacrifice of your Savior putting to death your "certificate of debt" that condemns you,  (Read 1 John 3:19-21, Colossians 2:10-15).  Turn your heart towards God's truth that there is no condemnation or those who are in Christ Jesus!

I took my friend to a nearby river and asked her to pick up a rock and throw it as far as she could into the muddy river.  I then asked her where was the rock?  She said in the middle of the river.  Then we read the Scripture which says,  He will cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea, Micah 7:19 (Read Micah 7:18-20).  I asked her what is she doing "mentally" in the midst of the river searching for the sin when God says He has cast if far from her — as far as the east is from the west, Psalm 103:12).

As my friend mentally chewed on what God said, she was set free!

Challenging Assignment:
Ask the the Lord search your heart according to Psalm 139:23-24.  If the Holy Spirit reveals a way of pain in you towards someone, take the initiative to seek peace.  Don't allow resentment to linger and grow roots of bitterness, Hebrews 12:15.   Don't allow unrighteous anger to remain embedded and in doing so give the evil one leverage in your relationships, Ephesians 4:26-32. Don't allow unconfessed sin to live any longer in your heart but confess it to the Lord and be done with it, Psalm 32.

Quiet your soul before the Lord and reflect on the forgiveness that flows from the Cross of Christ toward you.  Now, pray for and forgive the one who has offended you.  Hand them over to God.  Read Romans 12:17-21 as a meditation for the week and write down your meditation in a journal.  








Wednesday, November 14, 2012

made to know God

the 5C's of healthy leader development:  CHRIST

What is the goal of the Christian life?  

Read John 17:3.  The Goal is to know God.  This is not just and intellectual knowledge.  It includes this but it is much more.  We are created to be in fellowship with God, 1 John 1:3, 7.  Through Jesus Christ, the Christian is brought into an eternal relationship with God — starting now.  

This is the beginning and ending, the alpha and omega of healthy Christian leadership.  God is the One who ultimately builds leaders.  It is therefore imperative that the emerging leader cultivates and deepens his or her relationship with God.  The Scripture says to "take root downward, bear fruit upward."  

Is the way you are pursuing your life helping you in growing in your relationship with Jesus?  What does this mean to you - to have a relationship with God?  What are you doing that deepens your relationship with Him? 
How do you experience God?  What do you need to do or redo to deepen your walk with God?  What have you learned about God so far in your life?  How has this changed your life?  
Challenging Assignment:  This week, get away in solitude, be still and listen, fast to focus your attention on Him, meditate upon His Word and then share with a friend what God is teaching you about . . .  Himself.