Monday, April 10, 2017

"Jesus Just Didn't Get it!" April 10 Readings: Judges 1-2, Luke 9:1–22, Psalm 45:1–8, Proverbs 10:23-24



Today's Readings - Judges 1-2, Luke 9:1–22, Psalm 45:1–8, Proverbs 10:23-24


Devotional 


Evidently Jesus didn't understand some of the important principles that we are told are essential for effective leadership in churches today. There is an industry of leadership gurus who have developed a set of standards by which those of us in authority in churches need to operate if we hope to be effective. The first and foremost of those principles is the one that Jesus seemed to understand the least:
Select and surround yourself with talented, qualified, capable, and motivated people who can share the burden of leadership in your organization. 
Again, Jesus just didn't get it. He surrounded himself with the sorriest collection of misfits, outcast, and losers you could imagine. Several of them were Galilean fisherman - hardly a noble or desired class. There was a tax collector among them and no one liked those rascals. A couple of them were political radicals. Is there anyone less pleasant to be around than a political extremist - even one with whom you agree? Zealots and revolutionaries don't tend to be the kind of people you can build an effective movement around.

But Jesus had a different plan. He was not interested in the talents, abilities, heritage, and resources of the men he was calling to be his disciples. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 Paul tells us that God intentionally calls the average (and below average) into his kingdom so that he will receive the glory for what is done in the church.

In Luke 9:1-2 Jesus explains the key to life in his kingdom - the key that confounds so many leadership gurus. It's not about talent and creativity. It's not about innovative ideas and masterful planning. There is a place for those things, if they are sanctified in humility. But Jesus had a different way.

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Jesus didn't ask them, "What talents and abilities do you have that you can use in my service?" He never said, "Do you have any bright ideas to solve the problems of humanity?" Nope. Jesus just said, "Go!" He gave them HIS power and HIS authority. He sent them to preach the truths of the kingdom of God and to cast out demons and heal diseases. 

Here's the point. Jesus has the truth the world needs to hear. No, that's not it. Jesus IS the Truth the world needs to hear. And he is the one with the power and authority and glory. The world needs Jesus. And he has commissioned weak, failing, flailing, nothings like you and me to go in his authority and in his power to preach the message and to demonstrate the power. 

The church needs to stop trying to figure out what we can do for God, trying to measure our resources and our abilities, and we need to say, "Lord Jesus, fill us with your power and authority as we proclaim the kingdom and minister to this world as your servants." 

Jesus' methods haven't changed. He still takes ordinary folks like you and me, infuses us with his extraordinary power, and through us works to change lives, to save souls, to build the church and to do show his power and glory in this world. 

Father, may this world see you through me. May this world see you through us, the people of your church at 4301 Old Lakeport. May we be yours!

Think and Pray







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