Calling — purpose with passion

A 5C devotional for healthy leader development


Why do you do what you do? 

 Is it a job or a calling from God? If you do what you do because it a means for security, it is a job. If you do what you do because you “feel the pleasure of God”, it is a calling. We get a job. We discover calling. At jobs, we make money. At calling, we make a difference. A job is chosen by you. Calling is initiated by God. Jobs have to do with knowledge, ability and skill that you have acquired. Calling has to do with how God has wired you. A job is where you spend time,  A calling is where you invest your life.  A job is where you accomplish something, A calling is where you make an eternal difference.   Jobs are too small. Calling is your life opus.

As the new year begins, look to your Lord.  Quiet your soul and listen to Him, read Psalm 62.  Worship Him, read Psalm 92:1-11, trust and obey and live out your calling, for this is where true joy is found.  

Challenging Assignment:   

Ask Him,why are you here?

Ask Him, why you have the "job" you have? 

Ask Him, how the experiences of your past are to be used to influence those around you today.

Ask Him, how you are to employ your spiritual gifts in building up His body. 

Ask Him, to lead you to speak the Gospel with boldness and with respect.  Who is in your influence you are sharing the Gospel with?  

Ask Him, to use you to serve someone in need.

Ask Him, to deepen your "roots" in Him so that you may bear much fruit to glorify Him.

Ask Him, to give you a "Paul to mentor you and a "Timothy" for you to mentor.  

Ask Him, to do His deeper work of holiness in your mind, soul, spirit and body.

Ask Him, to fill you with the Holy Spirit, your helper to empower you to be subject to one another in the fear of the Lord. 

Ask Him, to surround you with His grace and peace.

Ask Him, to direct your steps to fulfill His calling on your life in 2013. 

Now, read Colossians 4:17.

Character — foundation for leadership

A 5C devotional of healthy leader development

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Helen Keller, 1880-1968

It is in the crucible of life that God is dealing with us, purifying us and shaping us into His Son’s image. I don’t normally enjoy the crucible but this is how character is built IF we respond well to the trials of life found in relationships, and circumstances. In “Overcoming Your Shadow Mission”, John Ortberg states, “If you don’t develop the character to support your gifts, they will actually become destructive to you.”

Challenging Assignment:  Read Genesis about Abraham's journey to Canaan. Notice that the conditions of the land when he arrived.  The Lord certainly could have led Him there in a season of bounty and the Lord could have removed the Canaanites from the Land.  But He didn't. The Lord led Abraham into the land in a time of famine and with the ungodly canaanites living there as his neighbors.

What was the first thing Abraham did?  He built an altar out of the rocks from the hard ground.  Abraham worshiped God!  He took the hard things in his surroundings and offered worship to God.  Today, take the "hard things" in your life and worship Him, praise Him and give Him thanks for each one of those hard things.   

Christ — a river of joy

A 5C devotional of healthy leader development

The Apostle Paul writes the letter to the Philippian church from prison.  He is chained to a Roman soldier and is under house arrest for his work in the Gospel.  Even though his circumstances are difficult he writes the most joyful letter in the New Testament.

Joy is an important fruit of the Holy Spirit that enables Christian leaders lead well.  And when we read the life of Paul, (read especially 2 Corinthians), we discover that even though he went through many trials, struggles, discouragements, sorrows, distresses, and pressures,  he was able to write about joy.

Throughout the book of Philippians joy is like a river that runs all the way through it and Paul knew how to tap into this stream even in the midst of the most adverse and trying circumstances.  What is Paul's secret?

In this letter, in the four chapters, we discover four reasons for joy

#1.  Joy is not dictated by circumstances but by finding life's Purpose in Christ.
In chapter one, The Apostle Paul chooses to rejoice because His life is Christ's.  He can have his freedom to travel, be imprisoned and chained to a Roman guard twenty-four-seven and yet rejoice because no one can take Christ away from him.  His life belong's to Christ.  His one desire is to exalt Christ and that can happen where ever he is.                                                          Philippians 1:20-21

#2.  Joy is discovered in the Pattern of Jesus' sacrificial service and not in our selfish pursuits.
In  chapter two, The Apostle points us to Jesus as the Pattern of humbling and yielding Himself for our leadership model.  Later in this chapter Paul says that he rejoices in the opportunity to be poured out as a drink offering upon the service and sacrifice of their faith.                                  Philippians 2:3-5,

#3.  Joy is deepened when we pursue Jesus as the Prize of our life.
In chapter three, The Apostle Paul describes how he has chosen to suffer the loss of all of his achievements and his privileged status in order to embrace Christ.  Paul's singular passion is Christ as the treasure and prize of his life.  To know Christ is all that really matters.  To know Christ personally, powerful and sufferingly is the treasure of a lifetime.                                             Philippians 3:7-10

#4.  Joy develops when we learn the secret of relying on Jesus as the source of our Power.
In chapter four, Paul has learned the secret to the Christian experience.  This is something that Paul learned in the school of hard knocks.  It is to be content in any and every circumstance through Christ who strengthens.                                                                                                    Philippians 4:11-13

Where does joy come from?  How can we tap into this ever flowing river of joy?   Jesus is the source of joy.  Jesus is our life Purpose, our Pattern, our Prize and our Power and when we abide in Him two things happen.  We bear much fruit (Joy is a fruit of the Spirit) and so glorify our Father and the joy of Lord becomes our and our joy is made full, John 15:5-11.

Challenging Assignment:   Center your life in Jesus Christ by thanking Him that He is in every one of your circumstances and choose to rejoice.  Bow your heart before Him and let the presence of His grace and peace rule in your heart.   Memorize and meditate on Jesus as our life Purpose - Philippians 1:20-21,  Jesus as your Pattern - Philippians 2:5, Jesus as  your Prize - Philippians 3:10 and Jesus as your Power, Philippians 4:13.   With these truths in your heart, be on the look out how you can serve others in love and with joy!