The Way Leader Should Respond

Leaders in company scenario are those individuals who do really best of the best tasks for the company. They are the ones who truly dedicate their lives just for the sake that the company grows. Why do they act that way? They have extraordinary skills that's why they are required for extraordinary results.

Same holds true with all kinds of leaderships. A leader is always the topman, he is required for a much heavier task than ordinary people, right?

When we talk about christian leadership / church leadership, how should leaders respond? I feel sad about what I see is happening on churches, most of them feel cold, seems everything is being done habitually. As leaders, people should not see you weak, whether you like it or not, act strong all the time.

I remember the time when I was just a ordinary attendee in our youth church. Even though our leaders demand us to attend most of the gatherings, we often not. Its feels boring back then. But now, things are totally different. I am one of the youth leaders now. I don't know how it happened, just that I realized that I am a leader.

The time we still have no responsibilities, we act as if we don't care about other peoples lives. As a leader, you need to care for all of them, though its quite hard. Most of the time, you always need to say yes when God calls you to do something. We really have no rights to say no, why? Because the reason we are being called to do something is because we are the one given much.

Analyze yourself now, are you given much? Are you skillful? Talented? Anointed? Are you a good speaker? etc...

What I simply mean is that they more skill or talents we have, the more we are required to devote ourselves for God's ministries. It is not for our personal use alone. Have you heard about Luke 12:48, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

For me, this verse should be an everyday reminder for us to know that we all called for a certain purpose, to use those skills that we have. If you are an anointed singer, you have no rights to say, "I don't want to worship lead". If you are a good speaker, you should not say "I can't share God's word."

Leaders respond to every call. "Yes" should be our answer. We are to be matured enough to realize that leaders always respond positively. Though schedules may seem to be tight, we can't say that "its too much".

Again, God wants us to have a wonderful life. Sometimes people get stressed in the ministries because they don't rest at all.

Always Remember:
Humans do rest. We can all have our rest, vacation but we can't remove our calling that is to be fulfilled. When God calls us to do something, "let your yes be yes"!


By Edwin Joseph

Born According to Plan

Ephesians 1:4-5
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

Chosen and Adopted

Yesterday we learned that God designed you as a wonderful and unique person for a job that only you can do. He could do that because he knew his plan for you before he had even created the world. The scripture above makes it very clear that you are not an accident. He had your life all mapped out way before you were born. One vital stop on the highway of your life is the day you become his adopted child by accepting his offer to forgive your sins and save you for all eternity.

The word “predestined” means that God planned everything out and made sure you got saved so you could be his daughter or son. I never quite understood this concept until I learned what God did for my friend Margaret. I met Margaret at a Christian homeless shelter. She had suffered some of the worst tragedies we could imagine. She had been terribly abused as a child. As a teenager she used drugs and alcohol. After she was grown, she spent years and years living in poverty and unhappy relationships until she finally lost everything. She went to the shelter so she wouldn’t have to live in her car.

Soon after she arrived, Margaret accepted Jesus as her Savior. She immediately enrolled in the yearlong disciples’ Bible study program. In time, she shared her story. One day, it dawned on me that nearly every one of the women in the class had gone to church and read the Bible as children. They knew about Jesus and often prayed to him when things went wrong. God worked behind the scenes to move them here and there. He kept them alive until they came to the shelter and heard about Jesus.

Fortunately, God’s plan for most of us doesn’t include what Margaret suffered. Instead, he gave us Christian parents who love us dearly and tell us about Jesus from the time we’re born. They take us to church and share the plan of salvation with us. And one day, it all makes sense and we pray to receive Jesus as Savior. We ask him to forgive us for all the bad, mean, dishonest things we’ve done. He gives us a new heart and makes us pure enough to go to heaven when we die. At the very moment we ask him to save us, we are adopted into God’s family—all according to plan, right on time, and without fail.

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for planning for my salvation. Thank you that before I was even born, you knew you would adopt me into your family. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear about Jesus and the faith to accept him as my savior. Please help me be a good son/daughter to you, one that will make you proud. Amen.


From: New Wine Skin - Written by Martha E Menne

Toys into Tools

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Luke 12:48


With the start of football season this month, I've heard the phrase, "to whom much is given, much is required" used a lot... and that's a good thing. A great thing. Athletes, profiled on sports shows, have been given chances to explain how they are using their celebrity and/or money to help mankind and/or spread the gospel. Most notable among them was the piece ESPN aired on University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow (click here to view the excellent 4 minute, 34 second piece).

Tebow speaks in the interview about wanting to use what he's been given as a platform to further the Kingdom of God. Which is reminiscient of the parable Jesus told about the difference between faithful and unfaithful servants, stewards of the kingdom. Faithful servants are to be about their master's will, not doing their own thing, not squandering what they've been given, but instead, realizing how much they've been given, and that there are punishments awaiting those who knowingly disobey (and even for those - albeit less severely - who unknowingly disobey).

I like verses like our main verse today, where a concept is repeated synonymously for effect. Wisdom literature (in Psalms and Proverbs) are ripe with this structure, and Jesus makes use of it here. "Everyone who has been given much" is echoed by "the one who has been entrusted with much," and "much will be demanded" is synonymous with "much more will be asked." It drives the point home.

We often hear the first part of this verse quoted, and it works fine by itself. To whom much is given, much is required. It even works well in the secular world, so much so that non-Christians quote it, perhaps without even knowing it's a biblical concept, and superhero movies use it as a thematic element.

But this week, after seeing and reading several profiles of Christian athletes, I read the verse in its entirety, and it opened up a new level of meaning for me. Generally, when I think of things I've been "given," or "gifts," I tend to think of presents, possessions... toys, even. Things that are mine. Things I can hoard, break, forget about, get tired of, use for personal gain, waste, sell, or lose. Some things we are "given" include salvation, spiritual gifts, genetic gifts, talents, financial blessing, testimonies, family, forgiveness, love, and more.

Now, does your perspective shift at all if you think of those things not merely as "things given," but as "things you are entrusted with"? For me, the ante gets upped. There's a new level of seriousness. The steward who has faith must, by definition, be faithful.

My toys, as I grow up, must become my tools - the things the Master has given that He expects will be used to build and further His Kingdom.

Intersecting Faith & Life: What gift have you been entrusted with that you are still just playing with? Or hiding? Or wasting? Knowing the Master's will, decide what you would say if He returned today to find you not busy at Kingdom work. Then decide one way you can use what you have been entrusted with to edify others this week. You may not have the platform of a Tim Tebow, but you've been given all the requirements necessary to do the job assigned to you.


From: CrossWalk Devotionals

WHY AFFLICTION ?

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 12-13

Have you ever asked God “why” when you encountered some very difficult situation? I have. We ask God “why,” as if we think HE does not care, or is unaware of what we are facing. We seem to forget the irrevocable covenant God has made to every Believer. “I will not leave you or forsake you.” Should I question His Sovereign Purpose?

Everyone faces the inequities of life … consequences, people, family, friends, and circumstances that we cannot find answers. Job was perplexed as Satan attacked his body and stripped him of EVERYTHING … EXCEPT, his faith in an Almighty God. Finally, God removed the scales from his eyes and Job cries out to God … “I have heard thee by the hearing of the ear … BUT NOW MINE EYE SEETH THEE.” [Job 42:5]

God revealed, in a measure, His Greatness and Majesty. Job saw himself in the penetrating light of God and recognized the Sovereignty of God through it all. “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” [Job 42:6] When we, like Job, cannot understand nor reconcile the circumstances we are going through, we must submit to the Sovereignty of God.

He often allows things in our lives for His Divine Purpose. We should not question God, or debate the validity of HIS Plan and Purpose. It is for us to “DARE TO TRUST” His Constant Care, His Unfailing Concern, His Loving Compassion, and His Unerring Faithfulness. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” [Lam. 3:22-23]

Paul, after his conversion, was attacked on every side. “I have labored more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck…” and abundantly more perils and suffering. [2 Cor. 11:23-33] Paul could have said … “Look at all of this. I tried to proclaim the Gospel, be faithful, live circumspectly before all, prayed, labored, sacrificed … “WHY LORD, IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?” But there was not a word of self-pity, complaining, or concern about himself. He knew his times were in the Hand of God … regardless of the encounter!

WHY? … Should these words ever be on our lips if we are fully trusting HIM? When we cannot “See His Hand” nor understand the adversity that we face … we can “Trust His Heart!” When there is no way out, but up … God is ready to put His Loving Arms beneath us, and be our Sufficiency. But He will not impose Himself on us. He wants us to place “Unwavering Faith” in Him. Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” [Prov. 3:5-6]

“My child, I have a purpose in all that I allow,
I ask thee then to trust Me, though all seems dark just now.
There is no other pathway if thou wouldst really be,
Conformed unto the image of Him Who died for thee.
Then shrink not from the training I needs must give to thee,
I know just how to make thee what I would have thee be.”

To us is given the responsibility of OBEDIENCE … the Results are HIS Responsibility.


From: Literature International Ministrie - Ed Powell

Do It Yourself (2)

. . . bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 10:5


Determinedly Discipline Other Things. This is another difficult aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood. Paul said, according to the Moffatt translation of this verse, ". . . I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ . . . ." So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but has simply come into being by impulse! In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father. There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s will— "the Son can do nothing of Himself . . . " ( John 5:19 ). Then compare this with what we do— we take "every thought" or project that comes to us by impulse and jump into action immediately, instead of imprisoning and disciplining ourselves to obey Christ.

Practical work for Christians is greatly overemphasized today, and the saints who are "bringing every thought [and project] into captivity" are criticized and told that they are not determined, and that they lack zeal for God or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not "bringing every thought [and project] into captivity," but are simply doing work for God that has been instigated by their own human nature, and has not been made spiritual through determined discipline.

We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ’s view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to "be transformed by the renewing of [his] mind. . . ." (Romans 12:2 ).


From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

The Departure Date

“Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.”
James 4:14

You, as all God’s children, live one final breath from your own funeral.

Which, from God’s perspective, is nothing to grieve. He responds to these grave facts with this great news: “The day you die is better than the day you are born” (Eccles. 7:1 NLT). Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor deliver-room doors. “He’ll be coming through any minute!” They can’t wait to see the new arrival. While we’re driving hearses and wearing black, they’re hanging pink and blue streamers and passing out cigars. We don’t grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don’t weep when we leave it.


From: Max Lucado