Consolidated!

For the past 8 months, I've been writing (or trying to write) 2 blogs. This one is focused on the heart of a leader while Small Group Leadership is focused more on the skills and habits of small group leaders. Of course, the 2 blogs have lots of overlap.

Honestly, two blogs is overwhelming for me, so I've decided to consolidate them. I've recently exported all past posts from this blog page to Small Group Leadership, and I'll continue to write devotional blogs there. To differentiate, I will label these blogs as "Leading from the Heart Devotional."

If you have been following these Leading from the Heart posts or have bookmarked this page, please follow or bookmark Small Group Leadership. I look forward to our ongoing conversations!

As for me ...

Today as I was reading Micah 7, I stopped at verse 7: "As for me, I look to the Lord for his help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me."

"As for me..." This phrase appears 54 times in the Bible (NIV), often as a comparison of a godly person's response to others in the world. The instance that immediately comes to my mind is Joshua 24:15: "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (For deeper study, also see 1 Samuel 12:23; Ps. 55:23; Ps. 71:14; Ps. 73:28; Jer. 26:14; Micah 3:8. Even Pilate uttered these words at Jesus' trial: "As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him"[John 19:6].)

Here, in Micah 7, the prophet has shared his heartfelt sorrow for the decline of the society around him. He said that the godly people have all disappeared (v. 2); they've become skilled at doing evil (v. 3). With that in mind, Micah says, but as for me ... Micah, like other leaders after God's own heart, decided to be distinctive and distinguishable, even if others thought he was just weird.

So how do I respond? Others around me are doing ____, but as for me, I will _____. As for me and my family, we will _____. How would you fill in those blanks?

The world around us is getting increasingly evil. Even Christians (but are they "Christ followers"?) I know rationalize sin, dishonesty, and lack of integrity. But as for me, I will put God first and obey him. I will, by the Holy Spirit's power, live a life of integrity and authenticity. I will, by His power within me, love God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love my neighbor as myself.

Everyone who desires to be a leader after God's own heart must also complete this phrase, As for me, I will _____.

Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:10-12).

Source of My Peace

Today's Bible Passage: Micah 5

Scripture:
"And he will be the source of our peace" (Micah 5:5).

Observation
In verse 2, Micah prophesied the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Verse 3 reveals that the people would be abandoned to their enemies until his birth, which was fulfilled as the Jewish people came under Roman rule. Verse 4 shows the Messiah as a shepherd leading his flock, a foreshadowing of Jesus as our Good Shepherd (John 10 and other passages).

Verse 5 gives us our hope in Jesus as our Shepherd-Messiah-Savior-Lord. He is our peace.

He told his followers, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). He is our "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). He brings a peace to those who believe in him -- a peace unlike anything the world has to offer. But he does much more than just give us peace. He is our source of peace!

Application

When life is uncertain, troubled, hectic, seemingly unraveling, Jesus is my source of peace. When I abide in him as my true source of power and provision (John 15:5), I will have that peace that is beyond all understanding (Phil. 4:7). When I feel overwhelmed, overburdened, overworked, underresourced, underloved, and under pressure, Jesus is the source of my peace. I can rest in him. He's got this!

Prayer
Jesus, today I'm feeling anxiety and pressure, and I'm feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. I bring these to you and surrender them to you. As I abide in you today, provide me with that peace that transcends all understanding, a peace that can only come from you. Help me to remember throughout the day today that you truly are my source of peace, and to abide in you. Help me to do what your Word encourages me to do: to trust in you with all my heart, to not lean on my own understating but in all my ways to acknowledge you, and I know that you, Lord, will make the path straight for me today. 

Filled with Power

Today's Bible Passage: Micah 3

Scripture: "But as for me, I am filled with power and the Spirit of the Lord. I am filled with justice and might, fearlessly pointing out Israel's sin and rebellion" (Micah 3:8).

Observation
Micah compares himself to the false prophets and other religious leaders of his time who didn't know right from wrong, hated good and loved evil, treated God as a magic Jeannie, were leading people astray, took advantage of their leadership positions to make money, hated real justice, twisted all that was right, led the people for the bribes they could get, taught the people only for money, and yet claimed they depended on the Lord. Yeah, they were messed up!

Micah, however, was a leader after God's own heart. He led not for what he could get out of it, but out of God's calling on his life. He led out of God's power within him by the indwelling of the Spirit of the Lord, not out of his own limited power, wisdom, or abilities.

Verse 8 brings to mind many other Bible verses, but especially Zechariah 4:6: "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

It also brings to mind the leaders of the early church. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised power when the Holy Spirit came upon them so that they could be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the whole world. That promise came true in Acts 2:4 when the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to boldly proclaim the truth. And it continued as these leaders stayed true to their calling regardless of the circumstances: "[The religious leaders] brought in the two disciples and demanded, 'By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?' Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them ..." (Acts 4:7-8).

The early church leaders knew where their power came from. They knew they could do nothing of any significance apart from Jesus and his Spirit (John 15:5). This is why they were so committed to prayer. Prayer is our "power cord." Prayer is way more powerful than we understand, but the early church knew this: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31).

Application
The power behind, or actually within all true spiritual leadership comes from God's Spirit. We tend to too easily forget this and rely on our own human strength and abilities instead, and we wonder why we are not more effective. The answer is not outside ourselves, it is inside, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

"As for me, I am filled with the Spirit of the Lord!" That must become my mantra, my constant prayer. Not by my own might or power or abilities, but by the power of his Spirit ... in all I do. As I lead my family, as I lead my group, as I lead in my church, I will seek his wisdom, direction, and power.

Prayer
Thank, you, Father, for your power. You have filled me with power and your Spirit. I am filled with justice and might. By your power I can be fearless and bold to be your witness, to speak your word, to carry out what you have called me to do.

Evil for Evil?

Today's Bible Passage: Micah 2

Scripture: Micah 2:3: "But this is what the Lord says: "I will reward your evil with evil; you won't be able to escape! After I am through with you, none of you will ever again walk proudly in the streets."

Observation
I don't like the New Living Translation here. It sounds like God does evil in return for their evil. The Biblical principle, however, is once again that you reap what you sow. They will face the consequences of their actions. The tables will be turned.

This is a very interesting verse. God has said, "I condemn you because you lie on your beds and plot evil." Now He says, "I am going to plot evil against you." What does He mean by that? Was God actually going to do that which was evil? No, God intended to punish the evildoers, which was right, but from their viewpoint it was wrong because they wouldn't like that. They would call it evil. —J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

God does not do evil, though some people still claim he does. When a disaster strikes, many people say, "Why did God let (or make) that happen?" attributing evil to God. By allowing us to face the natural consequences of our own actions, he brings consequences of punishment and judgment to us, which often looks like evil from our limited human viewpoint. But they are really discipline, meant to bring us into God's will.

The verse could say it this way: "I will reward you with what you will perceive as evil for the evil you are doing. The tables will be turned!"

God is gracious and kind, full of compassion and love, but he does not sugar-coat our sin. He loves us too much to allow us to wallow in our sinful behaviors. He so wants us to experience life to the full! So he has created this world in such a way that we face consequences when we are living outside his will. He disciplines us so that we will live life the way he intends us to.

But why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? (This is another question that attributes evil to God.) But the whole question is faulty. No one is good. We've all gone astray from God. He disciplines us for our bad behavior, not our good deeds. The whole point is to align us with his perfect, abundant, purposeful will for our lives.

Application
I am a child of God, and I'm glad my Father loves me enough to discipline me. He allows me to face the consequences of my wrong actions in order to help move me onto the right path--his path. He loves me way too much to allow me to continue living my own way. He desires for me to live life to the full, and I can only do that his way!

When things are not going my way in life, I will not question God's intentions. He is not evil and is not doing evil to me. I will try to see these hard times as ways God may be trying to get my attention, return me to the right path, and discipline me so that I may experience life to the full. I will try to view God during these times as a loving Father. I will ask him to reveal to me what he is trying to teach me and ask him for his power and patience to go through it and learn from it.

Prayer
My loving Father, thank you for your compassionate discipline in my life. Father, help me to learn from the difficulties I am presently enduring. Help me to grow to the place you want me to be. Help me to get onto the right path and live life your way, not my own or the way of the world. As a leader after your own heart, help me to be wise in the way I model this for others. Help me to help them discern what you are doing in their lives when you are applying your loving discipline.

Love and Hate

Today's Bible Passage: Micah 1

Scripture: Micah 1:2-3: "Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! The Sovereign Lord has made accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his holy Temple. Look! The Lord is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and comes to earth, walking on the high places."

Observation
Micah warns the people that God is coming to judge them because of their idolatry. The people were rebellious against God, treating him as an object rather than a person or totally ignoring him in deference to false gods, idols.

"Left to ourselves we turn God into an object, something we can deal with, some thing we can use to our benefit, whether that thing is a feeling or an idea or an image. Prophets scorn all such stuff. They train us to respond to God's presence and voice" (from The Message Introduction to Micah).

We have a loving God who hates sin. In fact, it is both his love and his hate that compelled him to send his only son, Jesus to die for us. Micah provides us with an accurate picture of God as one who loves us but hates our sin, our rebellion and idolatry. He wants nothing else to compete with our love for him, because he knows that nothing else in this world truly satisfies us. He loves us too much to let us settle for less than him.

"As you read Micah, catch a glimpse of God's anger in action as he judges and punishes sin. See God's love in action as he offers eternal life to all who repent and believe. And then determine to join the faithful remnant of God's people who live according to his will" (from the Life Application Bible Introduction to Micah).

Application
To be a man after God's heart, I must also be a loving person who hates sin. It's not up to me, though, to judge or punish, but to determine to live my life according to God's will. To be a leader after God's heart in my family, small group, and church, I must live as a model of someone who loves God and others but hates sin as much as God does. I must be in a real, abiding relationship with God as my Father, not see him as an object or just a means to my own ends. I must not have other things in my life that compete with God for my affections and devotion.

Prayer
My Father, I thank you that I can and do have a relationship with you. May nothing compete with that for my affections and devotion today. Help me to be a model for others of someone who loves you and other people and hates sin. I ask that your love--and your hate--overflow from me as you pour into me today.

I Want to Be a Remnant

Today's Bible Passage: Amos 9

Scripture: "In that day I will restore the fallen kingdom of David. It is now like a house in ruins, but I will rebuild its walls and restore its former glory." Amos 9:11

Observation
In this chapter, God has given Israel 4 affirmations of things he would do. The first 3 are negative. They basically say God will destroy Israel. He will hunt them down no matter where they go and make them face the consequences of their sinful behavior. But the last affirmation is positive. He will rebuild and restore the kingdom to what it was meant to be.

God is a God of rebuilding and restoration. He does the same in our churches and our lives. A very important and telling phrase in this passage is in the last verse of this book: "... says the Lord your God." Your God. God is personal. He loves us and came to give us an abundant life. Verses 13-15 illustrate the abundance God wants to provide for us who follow him.

Application
The promises of God are given to those who are not destroyed in his first 3 affirmations. God will judge fairly. He will separate the chaff from the wheat, the goats from the sheep. He will do this in a personal way, not on outward commitments and pledges, but on the true condition of our hearts. He knows us more and better than anyone.

I want to be a remnant! After God has separated out all the fakes and phonies, I want to be left standing, a man after God's own heart. Not perfect in my own right, but forgiven and perfected (made holy, sanctified) by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
My Father, I thank you today that I can call you "my God." Lord, I want to be a man after your own heart. No hypocrisy. No faking, no phoniness. I want to be an authentic follower of Jesus, period. Help me to be exactly what you made me to be. Lord, God, it is yours to judge. It is yours to separate the fakes from the followers. I want to be left standing with you as your remnant when all is said and done. Only by your grace, your power through your Holy Spirit alive within me, can this be accomplished.

Small Group Charades

Today's Bible Passage: Amos 5

Scripture: Amos 5:4-6, 21-24

Observation
Amos 5:4-6: God's constant call to us is "Come back to me and live!" "Come to me you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). There is a call to repentance here: Come back to me (see v. 6 as well). God is pleading with them here. See v. 5: "Don't go to worship the idols ..." This is the voice of a lovingly jealous husband: Come back to me. Please don't go ... But God's concern is with his bride, not his own feelings. He does not want them to suffer the consequences of their wayward, sinful actions.

Both the NIV and The Message translate this "Seek God and live." Seeking God comes first, before surrender, sharing, serving, and being a good steward. (See I'm a Leader...Now What?) This phrase is found more than 30 times in the Bible. See Isaiah 55:6-7 for what it means to "seek the Lord." Part of what it means is to forsake your own way and turn (or return) to the Lord.

Why should we come back to and seek the Lord? (1) so we may live (v.4); (2) there is no other way to God and the abundant life that comes from being in a relationship with him (v.5). All other ways are false idols; (3) not doing so will have consequences--both directly from God and indirectly from him through natural consequences.

I believe that most of the time the punishment or consequences we face come through the natural consequences to our actions. But they all come from God anyway, because he has ordered his world in such a way that when we do not do things his way--according to the natural laws of his creation--we face the consequences. This is the Biblical value of "we reap what we sow."

Amos 5:21-24: This is another common call from God that shows his heart. See also Isaiah 1:13-17, esp. in The Message. See also Hosea 6:6 and Matt. 15:6-9 for other places. God wants our hearts in worship, not a show or a ritual. 

Application
God is not pleased with us just because we show up at a small group meeting or a weekend service. That's why small groups must be more than just a meeting. A small group must be about seeking God, loving him and one another, including those outside our groups, wherever we are meeting or going. A small group is about living for God and carrying out Christ's mission, not just a weekly meeting. And a small group should be about justice and mercy for outsiders, not just another meeting for insiders.

In his Bible Exposition Commentary of theOld Testament, Warren Wiersbe says, "No matter how many people attend religious meetings, if the result is not obedience to God and concern for our neighbor, the meetings are a failure."

Prayer
My Father, I seek you today. When I go astray from you and move toward anything of this world as an idol, help me to come back to you in repentance. You are my only way, my life, and my truth. There is no other way, life, or truth. Give me the power and wisdom to live that way with you and for you today. And as our small group meets, Father, move us toward the message in this and other passages. Help us to do more than just have a meeting. I don't want us to play games with our group. Help us to come together tonight in your presence, for your purposes, and under your mighty power. By the prompting and power of your Holy Spirit, help us to carry out the mission Jesus has given us. In his mighty name, Amen.

Necessity or Luxary?

Today's Bible Reading: Amos 4

Scripture: Amos 4:1-3 (NLT)

Listen to me, you "fat cows" of Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and who are always asking your husbands for another drink!

The Sovereign Lord has sworn this by his holiness: "The time will come when you will be led away with hooks in your noses. Every last one of you will be dragged away like a fish on a hook!

You will leave by going straight through the breaks in the wall; you will be thrown from your fortresses. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Observation
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "It is for cake that we all run in debt." (from Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament). These verses show God's anger at the people who are living in luxary while they "oppress the poor and crush needy." Their priorities were all wrong. They were self-centered and self-indulgent, rather than looking out for the need of others.

Application
Are we being wise stewards of what God is providing for us? What most other people in this world would consider luxaries, we consider necessities. How can we live more simply, live debt-free, and use more of what God is providing us with for his glory? No more "keeping up with the Joneses." 

Prayer
Lord, help us to know the differences between necessities and luxaries. I want to be a good steward of all that you provide us with. I want to use what we are given for your kingdom, not for our own self-centered desires. I want to teach our kids how to manage thier money well and to see it as a way to make an impact, not live a life of self-indulgence. I need your wisdom and strength and encouragement in this area, Lord. This is a spiritual battle.

Religion, Prophets, & Leading from the Heart

As I began reading the Book of Amos this morning, I read the Introduction from The Message about religion and the role of prophets. While I don't usually share longer quotes here, I think this is well worth sharing. See what you think.

More people are exploited and abused in the cause of religion than in any other way. Sex, money, and power all take a back seat to religion as a source of evil. Religion is the most dangerous energy source known to humankind. The moment a person (or government or religion or organization) is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning a cause or project, anything goes. The history, worldwide, of religion-fueled hate, killing, and oppression is staggering. The biblical prophets are in the front line of those doing something about it.


The biblical prophets continue to be the most powerful and effective voices ever heard on this earth for keeping religion honest, humble, and compassionate. Prophets sniff out injustice, especially injustice that is dressed up in religious garb. They sniff it out a mile away. Prophets see through hypocrisy, especially hypocrisy that assumes a religious pose. Prophets are not impressed by position or power or authority. They aren't taken in by numbers, size, or appearances of success.

They pay little attention to what men and women say about God or do for God. They listen to God and rigorously test all human language and action against what they hear. ...

None of us can be trusted in this business. If we pray and worship God and associate with others who likewise pray and worship God, we absolutely must keep company with these biblical prophets. We are required to submit all our words and acts to their passionate scrutiny to prevent the perversion of our religion into something self-serving. A spiritual life that doesn't give a large place to the prophet-articulated justice will end up making us worse instead of better, separating us from God's ways instead of drawing us into them.

- from the "Introduction to Amos," The Message, my emphasis

Father, as one who seeks to be a leader after Your heart, I want to listen to You and rigorously test all human language and actions against what I hear from You. Help me to hear from You and move by Your Spirit today.

Hosea 14 Prayer

My Father, I confess that going my own way has brought me down. I have suffered the consequences of trying to go my own way without You. So now once again I return to You. Forgive me of my sins and graciously receive me, so that I may offer you a sacrifice of praise.

Government programs can't save me, nor can my own strength or intelligence. Never again will I make a god out of anything or anyone else.

Thank You, Father, for Your love and longsuffering for me. I know that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from your love. Thank You for your complete healing of my faithlessness. You, O Lord, are like a refreshing dew from heaven!

Father, deliver me from evil, help me stay away from anything that competes with my devotion to You. You alone are my God. You alone are the One who truly looks after me and cares for me. Your paths, O God, are true and right.

How God Parents Brats (Like Us)

God's children are like spoiled brats. God cares for us in His mercy and grace, and we take advantage of Him. We want our own way.

God's chosen children, the people of Israel, did this over and over. I read Hosea 11 this morning. This chapter reads like the transcript from an interview with a loving mom and dad whose kids have gotten in trouble. There is so much emotion in these words. This chapter shows God's character as much as any passage in Scripture.

I know how I feel when my kids act like spoiled brats. I try to help them; I provide them with what they need; I lovingly take care of them; I sacrifice for them ... and then they use me for their own selfish desires. God's children did that to Him. I do that to Him. I try to imagine how God must feel about that. But He is not a mere mortal like us. He is God (see v. 9). He is so patient and longsuffering.

In this passage, God simply tells His children the consequences of their own decisions and actions (vv. 5-7). They are responsible for the consequences of their behavior. God says He will not punish them as His burning anger tells Him to (v. 9), but He will also not remove the natural consequences of their own choices. This is just good parenting!

"Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah and Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not punish you as much as my burning anger tells me to. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy" (Hosea 11:8-9).

I often feel that way about my own kids when they mess up. How could I give up on them? How could I just let them go? I love them too much. I may get very angry with them, and I will let them deal with the consequences of their actions so that they will learn and grow, but, even as a mere mortal dad, I will never give up on them.

God's compassion for us is far greater than we can know. Jesus had the very same compassion for people (Matt. 9:36). Note the word overflows. His compassion to His people overflows out of His compassionate heart--His compassionate nature.

God's compassion overflows into you, leader. Are you putting yourself into a position to receive? When we spend time with God each day, He pours into us to overflowing (John 10:10). Our hearts become like His, filled with compassion that can then overflow into those around us. This is where Leading from the Heart begins!

Good Seeds, Bad Seeds

You reap what you sow. This leadership principle is so pervasive throughout the Bible. I came across it again today in Hosea 10. The prophet said:

Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you (v. 12).

This verse of grace--God's unmerited favor--stands out in the middle of all the verses around it that display God's judgment on Israel. He is still offering mercy and love if they will just repent. Regardless of how much we go it alone, God still desires an intimate relationship with us. He wants to shower righteousness on us ... if only we'll turn back and seek Him.

Did the Israelites accept God's grace? You probably know the answer:

But you have cultivated wickedness and raised a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies—trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe! (v. 13).

This is so sad. The good seeds from verse 12 fell on hard and rocky ground, and did not produce good fruit. Instead, seeds of wickedness brought the fruit of sin and lies. Satan is the deceiver and the father of lies. His seed produced its fruit. Like crabgrass, Satan's deceptions grow best in the hard ground of our hearts.


Father, do what you must to plow the hardened ground in my heart. Till up the hard places--the areas of my heart that I've left exposed, that I have not tended to. Father, I do not want to allow Satan to put down roots into those areas, and where he already has, Lord, I ask that you carefully till and then cultivate those areas for You. I ask You, my Father, to soften all those places of my heart that have become hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Soften them and then plant Your good seed into my heart so that I may be able to produce a crop of righteousness for You. I know, dear Jesus, that I cannot bear fruit on my own. I desperately need You to do in my life what only You can do.

Should Christian Leaders Set Goals?

One of my hallmarks of a healthy small group is Goals and Plans: The group has a written “Action Plan” that includes a mission, goals, expectations, ground rules, etc. I've written about goals, plans, wins, and intentionality often in my posts at www.smallgroupleadership.blogspot.com. (Go there and see labels for "goals and plans," "group health," "intentional," and "win.") Obviously, I believe in the importance of a group having goals and plans. I've seen vivid evidence in the small groups at our church who developed goals and plans that lead to health, spiritual and numerical growth, and leadership development and deployment.

The other day, however, I began to question this value.

In their book, A God-Centered Church, Henry and Melvin Blackaby say that setting goals "comes straight from the world and the culture around us." OK, so that sentence jumped off the page and got my attention!

The authors go on to say, "As servants of the most high God, we don't have the right to determine the direction of our lives or our church. God alone sets the purposes, objectives, and goals for His people."

Does this fly in the face for you, your group, and your church? Should you stop setting goals and making plans? Well ... yes and no.

I see plenty of Biblical support for making plans and setting goals:

• "May [God] grant your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans" (Psalm 20:4).
• "Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe" (Proverbs 2:11).
• "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty" (Proverbs 21:5).
• "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).

The issue is not whether we should or should not set goals or make plans; the issue is whose goals and plans!

• "The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, purposes of his heart through all generations" (Psalm 33:10-11).
• "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3).
• "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21).
• "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Galatians 3:3).

Several pages later in their book, the Blackabys say, "Instead of asking, 'What should we do this year?' we need to ask:

• What is God doing this year, and how can we join Him?
• What adjustments do we need to make in our lives in order to fulfill God's purposes for us?
• What does God want to accomplish in and through our lives this year?
• What has He been saying to us as a church [or small group or team] that we must carefully obey?"

I put these questions in a bullet list because I believe these are GREAT questions to ask your small group, ministry team, or leadership team.

Leading a small group--or anything in the church--from the Heart starts with the idea that we exist and gather in HIS presence under HIS power and authority for HIS purposes ... not our own.

How are you developing goals and plans in your group or team? Bathe the process in prayer and lots of listening. Ask the questions, above, and use them to shape the direction of God's group that He has entrusted to you.

The Choice

Where do you turn when you mess things up?

The book of Hosea recounts a time when God's people lost their way. And they had a choice: Where would they turn for help? Unfortunately they made the wrong decision:

"When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were, Israel turned to Assyria, to the great king there, but he could neither help nor cure them" (Hosea 5:13, NLT).

How sad. They could have turned to God, confessed their sin, and repented. But instead they turned to the world that could not really help or cure them, as only God could. But here's the Good News: even though God brings judgment upon people who have gone astray and don't depend on Him, He still patiently waits for us to admit our guilt and look to Him for our help (see v. 15).

God promises throughout Scripture that when we repent and turn to Him, He will respond to us. When we ask, he'll give. When we have faith in Him, He'll give us life. When we come to Him, he will give us rest. When we love Him, He will work for our good. He is for us. When we obey Him, He will be with us always, to the very end. He will never leave nor forsake us.

So, where will you turn when you are in need, when you have failed, or when you realize how sick and messed-up you are? You have a choice. There is only one source that can truly help and cure you. Apart from Him, you and I are nothing.

Don't Point Fingers, Leader

Did you know that as a spiritual leader, God will hold you accountable for the spiritual condition of the people you lead? You are a steward of the leadership responsibilities and the people He has entrusted to you (1 Peter 5:2, 3) and you and I will someday give an account to Him (Matthew 25:19; see vv. 14-30 for the entire parable).

In Hosea 4, God held the spiritual leaders accountable for the spiritual condition of the people.

"Don't point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! Look, you priests, my complaint is with you!" (Hosea 4:4, NLT).

If you're a leader, don't point fingers at the people you're leading. Look in the mirror first. God's complaint may be with you!

In verse 6, God says, "My people are being destroyed because they don't know me. It is all your fault, you priests, for you yourselves refuse to know me." Spiritual growth--discipleship--begins with us as leaders. We know that. We've heard it before. But I wonder how seriously we take it.

As I read this passage, I feel the weight of my spiritual leadership responsibility. And I should feel that weight! People's lives are at stake. Many people are depending on me to be a model of what having a real relationship with the living God looks like. God will someday hold me accountable for what I did with what he entrusted me. And yet, I realize that I don't have to carry this heavy burden myself. In surrender, I can take it to Jesus, and he will provide me with rest and peace. In his presence and by his power the burdens--even the leadership burdens--are not heavy at all.

I'm a Gomer ... and So Are You

Hosea has never been a Bible book I've paid a lot of attention to. Until now, I may have never quoted it. None of my favorite or memory verses are from it. But as I read it now, I'm amazed by it's very clear and meaningful illustration of God's character, ways, and love for us.

This morning as I read chapter 2 and let it soak into my life, God spoke to me about Himself.

In the prophet Hosea's true-to-life story, his wife, Gomer, represents the nation of Israel. She also represents God's church and each of us as individuals. Each of us have treated God with contempt. I have chased after other "gods" in this world. I've prostituted myself to the world. I've committed adultery against Him. I've selfishly taken advantage of His blessings and spent them on the lusts of this world. I'm a Gomer ... and so are you. (I'm also a Goober ... but that's another story entirely.)

The story of Hosea is this: God comes after us. Even when we have sinned and treated Him with contempt, as Gomer (Israel) had, he seeks after us to win us back. Gaaw-aawl-ly!

As you read trough Hosea 2, especially beginning in verse 14, notice that all the actions ("I will ...") begin with God, not us. God pursues us. He returns our blessings to us and transforms our lives. He causes us to "forget" our "Baal images." Not only that, but someday God will restore His creation to it's original state and put an end to all wars. The point is that no matter how bad things seem to be in this world, God is still ultimately in charge and will someday redeem and restore all things. Neither individuals, governments, nor any force in this world, including Satan, are really in control. Surprise, surprise, surprise!

This whole passage reminds us of God's promises. He says, "I will," and by faith, we believe He will. God extends His covenant to us. He woos us, pursues us, faithfully loves us despite our unfaithfulness to Him. Shazam! 

Father, thank you for wooing me. I'm sorry for the ways I've run after other "gods," trying to satisfy my lusts with other things. I'm sorry for prostituting myself to this world and committing adultery against you. I'm amazed that you still want me and that you pursue me as you do. You have been faithful to me even when I have taken your blessings and used them for my own worldly satisfaction. Father, I accept your faithful love for me. I am yours, all yours. You are my God. You are my only God! Lord, I know you will transform my troubles into opportunities for joy and hope and peace and life to the full. I believe that you can and will help me to turn from my temptations and sin and, only by your awesome power, to live a holy and blameless life. Father, I admit my own powerlessness over all these other gods that woo me, and I submit to your power in my life--your holiness, your ways. Thank You, Father for the way you are planting joy and goodness and love in my life through Your Spirit. Thank You for Your love for me. I am Yours. You are my God!

Jesus' Small Group Curriuclum

What curriculum did Jesus use as He led His small group?

That question seems absurd, at least to me. Jesus' curriculum was life. He asked great questions and told great stories as He did life with His group. And so they learned how to live life as they observed Him and did life with Him.

One of my favorite quotes outside of Scripture is from Leroy Eims:

Disciples cannot be mass produced. We cannot drop people into a “program” and see disciples emerge at the end of a production line. It takes time to make disciples. It takes individual, personal attention. It takes hours of prayer for them. It takes patience and understanding to teach them how to get into the Word of God for themselves, how to feed and nourish their souls, and by the power of the Holy Spirit how to apply the Word to their lives. And it takes being an example to them of all of the above.

What Eims describes here is shepherding. The Best Small Group Leader Ever was a shepherd: the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, the Chief Shepherd. He had compassion on people who were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).

I think Jesus is our best model for being a small group leader.

Which is why I believe small group leaders should be much more than just facilitators or hosts or disc-jockeys who put in a DVD and press the PLAY button. Small group leaders are called primarily, in my opinion, to be shepherds. When we take a minimal view of small group leadership, the members of our groups are still “like sheep without a shepherd.”

What do you think?

Small Group Superhero!

Today at Northeast, Bob Cherry stepped out on stage wearing a red cape, playing the part of "Super Pastor."  He shared how, early in his ministry, he did everything around the church: preaching, teaching, visiting, writing and printing the bulletin, roofing, and so on. He then taught us about the Old Testament role of the priests, who acted as mediators between God and man, and discussed how many churches still work from this Old Testament model in which the priest (or pastor or minister) is expected to and actually does almost everything.

The problem, of course, is that this model is totally foreign to the model and teaching of the New Testament. In the New Testament church, everyone is a super hero. Everyone has a part to play in Christ's Body. We are all priests (1 Peter 2:9). Most of us who have been around the church for awhile know this. We've read passages like Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:1-16, 1 Cor. 12, and Romans 12. We know it, but do we really live it?

Each member of your small group is a super hero! Each one has been given super powers called spiritual gifts. Each one should have an important role to play in the group. Each one is a priest.

Do you see your small group this way? Is everyone empowered to use their gifts to serve others in the group in their own unique ways? Does each person have a role that matches up with their gifts, passions, and skills?

I visit a lot of small groups and I see a lot of super hero small group leaders who somehow have come to believe they must do everything in order for the group to thrive. I talk to some of them and they tell me things like, "Well, they're just not ready yet to share leadership in the group." My question: Why is that? Why have you not developed them and empowered them? Why don't you believe in them?

Leaders who do everything for the group enable the other group members to sit and do nothing. They send a clear message that says, You can't ... You're not able. But a leader's main responsibility is to say, "You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You can do it! Give it a try! This is a safe place to step out of your comfort zone. I'm behind you!" People will grow when they are in this kind of environment. People do not grow when they are always playing it safe inside their comfort zones. People don't grow with super hero small group leaders!

Discuss this with your group! You can hand out a list of possible roles for your group, discuss what gifts and talents are involved in each one, and let group members take ownership of at least one. You can download the form from HERE.

It's time to take off the cape and get everyone involved. This will change your group! (It can also change your church and the world.)

When Jesus Isn't Able

Jesus went back to his hometown, and Mark 6:5 says, "Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all" (The Message).

When I read this last week, it took me by surprise. Jesus ... not able to do much of anything? In the midst of healing thousands, calming storms, raising dead people to life, and feeding thousands with a Lunchable, Jesus experienced a "failure." Of course, his power was sufficient. It always is. But their stubbornness and unbelief was the obstacle to his work having any effect. The problem was not in Jesus' power; the problem was their hearts, which were hard, shallow, or full of weeds (see Mark 4:1-20 and my post about it here).

We can only imagine Jesus' dismay over the fact that he could not bring healing or insight to these people, his own friends and family. Jesus was simply too familiar to them. They knew of the Jesus from the past--the son of Joseph and Mary--but they did not know the Jesus of Today, the Son of God who had the power to bring healing and transformation to their lives. So he moved on to other places.

Hmm.... does this still happen? Have we become too familiar with Jesus (and the way we've always done things) to be healed and transformed by him? Do we know the Jesus of the past from Bible stories we learned as a child, or do we know him and how he is working Today, in our midst?

As you meet as a small group, move beyond the stories of what Jesus did. Talk about--better yet, experience--what he is doing. He is indeed present in your group meetings--right now. Don't just meet to study the Jesus of the past through Bible study. Be sure your hearts are softened and prepared to experience his presence, power, and purposes Today.

Otherwise, Jesus may have to move on to other places.

Jesus' Power to Multiply

In whose hands is your small group?

This morning I read from Mark 6, which includes the account of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. I love Wiersbe's illumination in his commentary:

The miracle took place in His hands, not in theirs; for whatever we give to Him, He can bless and multiply. We are not manufacturers; we are only distributors.

—Warren Wiersbe, Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament

What are you holding onto in your own hands today? Your small group? Your family? Your finances? Your ministry? Your job? When we place what we've been given in Jesus' hands--an act of surrender and stewardship--he has the power to multiply it. In his hands, he provides superabundantly--to overflowing (John 10:10).

Would you like to see your small group grow and multiply? Would you like Him to bless your life? It's not so much about your methods, your goals, and your abilities. It's about putting the group--and your very life--in Jesus' hands and then being a faithful steward in your role.

Time with My Friend

A friend is someone I will make time for. If someone offers friendship to me, it's a rare privilege, but if I do not make time to be with him, we are not friends. Moses understood this.

"The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend."

- Exodus 33:11

This is the kind of relationship with God I desire, that he would talk with me "as a man speaks to his friend." In Moses' time this was a very rare privilege that was unavailable to the rest of the Israelites. But today this kind of relationship is accessible because of Jesus. He called his followers (and that includes you and me)  his "friends" (John 15:15).

 Moses pleaded with God to not give up on his people but to continue to personally go with them on their journey. God reassured Moses, "you have found favor with me, and you are my friend" (Ex. 33:17).

I have favor with God and I am his friend, not because of anything great I have done, but because Jesus has made it accessible to me--and you. Both Moses and Jesus modeled this friendship with God by spending time with him, abiding with him.

As someone who desires to be a leader after God's own heart, friendship with God is available to me--what a privilege! My response is to to stop from my busyness, rest, abide, hang out with God for awhile today, spend time with my friend. That's what I'm going to do. How about you?

Who a Leader Listens to

A leader must know who to listen to.

When Moses failed to come back down the mountain right away, the people went to Aaron. "Look," they said, "make us some gods who can lead us...." So Aaron said, "Tell your wives and sons and daughters to take off their gold earrings, and then bring them to me." All the people obeyed Aaron and brought him their gold earrings. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded and tooled it into the shape of a calf. The people exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!"

- Exodus 32:1-4, NLT

Aaron had been chosen by God as Israel's High Priest. And yet he totally blew it. He was a leader who led the people the wrong way. His intentions may not have been bad, but he listened to the wrong voices.

As a leader, I have to be careful not to lead God's people to worship anything other than God! Regardless of how much people ask and plead and push--no matter what seemingly great ideas they have, I must not give in. A leader after God's own heart learns to listen to one voice above all the babble of human voices. A leader after God's own heart has spent enough time with God to know and follow his voice and lead others to worship and serve him only.

Some of those human voices will be very strong, and we will be tempted to listen to and follow them. Some will reverberate with reason and a certain power and authority, yet God's still small voice is more powerful to the leader after God's own heart. Some human voices promise popularity, power, position, and even prosperity, but the leader after God's own heart does not give in to them.

What "golden calf" have I made for the people I lead? Numbers? Buildings? Organization? Programs? ? The success of my church or ministry or group? Is it time to stop, ask for God's forgiveness, and turn back toward the one true God?


Oh, Father, you have called me to leadership in your church and I want to follow you because I know your voice! Amid the babble of all the other human voices competing for my attention, I desire to hear your still, small voice loud and clear. As a leader after your own heart, Father, help me to stay true to you and your way so that I may lead people to worship nothing and no one else but you.

Follow the Instructions

I love building things, but I hate following instructions. So, I often end up with extra pieces ... or find I've skipped a step, so I have to take half the thing apart and rebuild it ... or the "completed" project just does not work. I end up having to look at the directions anyway to see where I went wrong. It was like that when the Israelites were building the Tabernacle and it's like that today when God is using us to build our families, our small groups, or his church. He told Moses,

"They must follow exactly all the instructions I have given you."

- Exodus 31:11

It was not enough that God called and gifted specific people to build his Tabernacle, they were to do it exactly the way he had instructed them. It's the same today. He calls us and He gifts us to carry out His instructions for His church.

God did not provide detailed instructions in the New Testament for building his church as he did for the construction of the Tabernacle or Temple in the Old Testament. Or maybe he has, but the instructions are different.

The New Testament church is about relationships, not structures. God now resides in the hearts of his people, not in buildings. God now provides grace-based guidelines rather than legalistic regulations. Therefore his instructions today are relational in nature. They are about how to be in relationship with him and one another.

Yes, we still need to follow God's instructions, and when we don't, his church does not work very well. There are "extra pieces" that don't seem to fit. We have to constantly go back and try to fix things that are not working. Or the church just does not seem to work at all. So we finally go back and see what the instructions say:

• Love one another
• Carry each others' burdens
• Serve one another
• Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another
• Honor one another above yourselves
• Submit to one another
• Teach and admonish one another
• Bear with one another
• Encourage one another

Imagine if we followed exactly these instructions the Lord has given us!

It's OK to Bowl Alone

Yesterday I went bowling alone, and I enjoyed it immensely. I was in Evansville, Indiana, with my son Dru and his friend Christian who were in a bouldering competition. I had a couple hours to kill before the comp actually started, so I puttered around Barnes & Noble and then went bowling. Around the fourth frame of the third game, I thought about the book, Bowling Alone, by Robert Putnam, which describes the decline of community in America since 1950. But I was really enjoying my time bowling alone! And then I thought of Jesus and how he often got away from the crowds to be in solitude.

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

- Luke 5:16

It may be surprising to hear a community junkie like me say this, but I believe that being in community and being in solitude are equally vital for our spiritual and emotional health. They form a symbiotic relationship. As the church today we are doing a great job promoting community, but a poor job promoting solitude.

In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said,

Let him who cannot be alone beware of community . . . Let him who is not in community beware of being alone . . . Each by itself has profound pitfalls and perils. One who wants to fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair.

Father, help me to live a balanced life in both community and solitude. Help me to enjoy times alone with you and times together in community. Help me to be more Christ-like ... to not fear being alone, but to often seek time away from the crowds and the groups to be alone with you.

Mountain Climbing Dangers, Decisions, and Devotions

I feel a need to comment on my own post from February 24, "Just to Be Close to You." I wrote that devotional based on Exodus 24 where Moses and the Israelite leaders climbed the mountain and worshiped God.

There is a danger here if you read too much into this. Even as I wrote it I tried to be careful not to use language that would sound legalistic, performance-based, or pressure-inducing. Climbing the mountain to be closer to God can sound that way. But that is not the spirit of Exodus 24 or my devotional post.

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to me on the mountain.'"

- Exodus 24:12

I was reading John Eldridge's February 2010 newsletter the other day in which he discusses the pressure we put on ourselves in our love affair with God. I love his story of a woman whose desire and love for God became duty and pressure. Eldridge goes on to say:

All the things we are called to do – to pray, and sacrifice, and help others – all of it is easy when it comes out of a love for God. But pressure is sneaky; it works its way in here, too, doesn't it? You’re not doing enough. Let us remember then that, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). You are deeply and profoundly loved. As this seeps in, it releases us from guilt and pressure and frees our hearts to love God in return.

The point of my original post is that we allow things in our lives to keep us at a distance from God: our attitudes, decisions, indifference, etc. But God is always inviting and drawing us closer to him. He loves us, as Gary Thomas recently reminded me in a Focus on the Family newsletter, with an "Anyway Love," not a "Because Love." Yet, we must respond to this love, and that takes action, hard decisions, sacrifice, and surrender. It takes climbing the mountain to be with God. All of that is easy when it comes as a response to God's love for us.

Father, I know you are always inviting me, drawing me, closer into a more intimate relationship with you. And that is my desire. Lord, so take away the the things in my life that are obstacles to me coming closer. Thank you for loving me first, with an unconditional, "anyway" kind of love. My desire is to be in relationship with you, and then, Lord, to be a leader after your own heart so you can use me in your Kingdom mission.

Just to Be Close to You ...

I am often frustrated by the fact that even though I want to be a leader after God's own heart, I can't quite carry it out as I want to. I desire to be closer to him, abiding in a daily, intimate, rich relationship with God, but it seems I can only get so close. It's not God--he has drawn near to me. It has something to do with me.

Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the leaders of Israel went up the mountain. There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a pavement of brilliant sapphire, as clear as the heavens. And though Israel's leaders saw God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they shared a meal together in God's presence!

- Exodus 24:9-11

Israel's leaders not only saw God, they shared a meal together in his presence! Read Exodus 24:9-18 for all the details of this account. This is a fascinating passage that I think provides some interesting insights into how we come close to God. Basically, four groups of people come into four "levels" of fellowship with God. (1) The Israelite people stood at the base of the mountain and watched.  (2) Moses, Aaron, Aaron's two sons, and 70 of Israel's leaders went up onto the mountain. (3) Moses and Joshua went further up the mountain. (4) Moses went to the top of the mountain and disappeared into the cloud where he spent 40 days and nights with the Lord.

Not much has changed over thousands of years. Some of God's followers are not yet ready to enter God's awesome presence. They stand at the base of the mountain (or sit in the auditorium) and watch, but they do witness how God is working in the lives of his leaders (v. 17). Some are ready to climb the mountain and be in God's personal presence, but they remain there. A few are prepared to go even higher to be even closer to God. And then there are a very few people (Moseses) who are called into and respond to an intimate communion with the Lord.

I'd like to think I'm a Moses (or at least a Joshua)--that I've gotten away from the crowds to hike up the proverbial mountain to spend time with God, but I'm probably more like the 70, who could only go so far. I want to be more intimate with God, but my attitudes, lifestyle, decisions, level of faith, indifference, etc., keep me from getting any closer than I am right now.

The Good News: God is always inviting us to come closer (Rev. 3:20) to commune with him. But first, he calls us to be diligent and turn (repent) from our indifference (Rev. 3:19). Someday we will dwell with God in his presence forever (Rev. 21:3). In the meantime, we can be in fellowship with God, gathering in his presence, power, and purposes here on earth.

You are an awesome, holy, all-powerful God, and yet you invite me into your presence. I want to see you and know you and walk today in communion with you, but at the same time, I recognize your holiness and power. I don't deserve on my own merit to be in fellowship with you, but because you are so rich in mercy, you have invited me in. Thank you, Father, for your invitation to come nearer to you. Help me push away all the keeps me distant from you.

The Jesus of the Old Testament Too

I came across a couple verses buried in the middle of a bunch of Old Testament laws this morning that broadened my understanding of Jesus. It's quite remarkable:

"See, I am sending my angel before you to lead you safely to the land I have prepared for you. Pay attention to him, and obey all of his instructions.... He is my representative—he bears my name."

- Exodus 23:20-21, NLT

I checked my commentaries to see who this angel is, and nearly all agree it is the Son of God, Christ Jesus. In 1 Cor. 10:1-11, Paul himself commentates on this passage to help believers learn from Israel's history, and he points directly to Jesus as the one who led them.

I've known that the Second Person of the Godhead, the Son of God, appeared in bodily form in different places and times in the Old Testament, but I guess I haven't given it much thought before. I guess I have generally confined my understanding of Jesus to the New Testament, born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, etc. But the Son of the Most High God is much more than that! He has always existed (see John 1:1-4). In him all the fullness of God lives in bodily form (Col. 2:9). And he did not just sit around heaven for thousands of years waiting to be born of Mary!

Jesus is and has always been the Good Shepherd, who leads his people to the land prepared for us. He has always been active in this pursuit! (Read also John 10 and John 14.) He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life even in Old Testament times!

Jesus is and always has been God's representative, bearing his name. Jesus told his disciples over and over again that he was in the Father and the Father was in him (John 14:10). Jesus' name is powerful (John 14:14) because he bears the name of the Father. Jesus made it clear that he was sent by the Father and did nothing except what the Father instructed him to do (John 5:19; 6:38; 7:16; 8:28; etc.).

I praise you today, Lord Jesus, as the Leader of my life. You are safely leading me through the wilderness of this life to eternal life and to an abundant life during the journey. You are the Way ... and that's nothing new! Thank you for revealing to me today a new side of you, so that I may better know your voice and follow you as you lead me.

The One Thing a Leader Must Know

At the center of a spiritual leader's competencies is an unshakable belief that God is sovereign.

Even (or maybe especially) in the midst of difficult or even tragic situations, a leader knows that God is in control and will work for the good.

"As the princess opened [the basket that she found in the river], she found the baby boy. His helpless cries touched her heart."

- Exodus 2:6, NLT

Exodus 1 recounts the terrible suffering in Egypt of the Israelites, God's chosen people. They were being worked to death as slaves by brutal, ruthless slave drivers and their newborn baby boys were being killed. When all seemed hopeless, Moses entered the scene and we see God's sovereignty at work. Through a series of dramatic, made-for-TV situations and circumstances, God used Moses to save his people. You probably know the rest of the story (if you don't, buckle up and read Exodus).

God had a plan for his people through all of their trials and tribulations. There's no way they could have seen or understood it in the midst of their tremendous sufferings. But God was at work; He had a plan. He even used the daughter of the one who was inflicting the pain to bring about his purposes.

Faith is based upon the understanding that God is in control over all his creation, including every circumstance in which you as a Christ-follower find yourself. Today, if you are conflicted or hurting or confused, know that God is indeed sovereign. Rather than looking at the circumstances, keep your eyes on Christ. Ask what God is doing in the midst of this. What does God want me to learn through this? How is he at work behind the scenes? Who might he send to help walk me through this? Read Philippians 4 today.

God is sovereign. He really is!

What if God Showed Up in Our Meeting?

"Wouldn't it be great if God would just show up physically in our meeting? It would be awesome if he would show himself or if we could literally hear his spoken voice!"

"But be careful! You did not see the Lord's form on the day he spoke to you from the fire at Mount Sinai. So do not corrupt yourselves by making a physical image in any form."

- Deuteronomy 4:15-16

I was struck by a couple verses this morning as I read Exodus 20 during my quiet time. When God appeared to the Israelites, he did not show himself in any physical form. If he had, the people would have idolized the form itself. In verse 23, God reminded them (again) to not make or worship any kind of idol.

God reveals himself today in many ways: through nature, the Bible, miracles, gifted spokesmen for him, etc., and people have idolized all of these. That's why Jesus said we are to worship God is spirit and truth (John 4:23). "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

"False gods are always gods one can see (and touch)."

- Christian philosopher Jacques Ellul

 
In Exodus 20:24-25, God commanded that the altars made for sacrifices be made simply and naturally, out of the raw materials God had provided for them. Otherwise, the altars themselves would become idols, and man's work would be more important than giving worship to God.

When Jesus built his church, it was a simple, organic movement that needed no buildings. It was built upon the Rock (himself) and lots of uncut stones (that's us!). During those days, the church grew like never again. The Temple was destroyed in those days when God's church was growing.

The people of Jesus' day still confusedly confined worship to a certain special location (John 4:20). But the Father seeks those who worship him in spirit and truth, and that happens anywhere even two or three come together in Jesus' name (Matt. 18:20).

Leading from the heart means leading people to the presence, power, and purposes of Christ in your midst ... wherever you happen to gather.

Father, today help me to be careful not to idolize the buildings we meet in or the work that goes into them. Help me to worship you in spirit and in truth. To recognize your presence, power, and plans for me wherever I am.  You want my heart ... in complete surrender and worship to you.

Snow Day Devotional

I'm working from our kitchen table today, but it's not easy to focus. Every so often, I look out the glass sliding doors into our back yard and watch the snow coming down. It really is awe-inspiring to watch as it covers the tree branches with its winsomely white artistry. (Picture at right taken by my wife, Heidi)

I stopped and read Job 37, reflecting on God's power and wonder. Just as Job was encouraged to, "stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God" (v. 14), I stopped to reflect on what God might want to teach me in the snowfall.

"He directs the snow to fall on the earth.... Everyone stops working at such a time so they can recognize his power."

- Job 37:6-7, NLT

I encourage you to stop today and, if it's snowing (or raining or sunny ...) where you are, to recognize God's power. Read all of Job 37 and see what God wants to teach you today.

Thank you, Lord, for the snow today. You are in control over all your creation, over me, over your church, over every little thing that will happen in my day today and over everything in your universe. You, Lord, balance the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill. Help me to continue to recognize you in your creation and as you work in my life today.

Leading Down the Mountain

Spiritual leadership begins with the heart to be led. It involves humble surrender of "my" leadership as an act of stewardship to God. Moses displayed this kind of leadership.

Moses returned from the mountain and called together the leaders of the people and told them what the Lord had said.

- Exodus 19:7

The job of a spiritual leader can be summed up simply: (1) to meet with God and (2) to share God's messages with God's people. To go up to the mountain and then return from the mountain. To receive and to overflow. (Other great Biblical leaders, especially Jesus, exhibited these traits of leadership as well.)

Have I been to the mountain today? Am I returning from the mountain to share what the Lord has said?

Father, as I come to the "mountain" today to meet with you, help me to hear your voice and simply enjoy abiding with you. I thank you that I can come close to you and have this kind of relationship with you because of your Son's death on the cross for me. I am looking forward to what you will teach me today, Lord, from your Word and through your Spirit. I open my heart to you to pour into me to overflowing. As I come down from the mountain through my day, help me to simply overflow into others what you've been pouring into me.

Great Humility = Great Leaderhip

It takes great humility to be a great leader. Moses was a great leader because he was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (in his own words! See Numbers 12:3.). It takes humility as a leader to listen to others' advice, especially when they tell you that the way you are leading is not right, and even more especially when that person is your father-in-law!

"Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions."

- Exodus 18:24

Earlier in this chapter, Moses had recounted all God had done for the Israelite people. Moses' words focused on God's provision, not his own greatness, but still, Moses knew that he was the man God had chosen to lead the people.

If that would have been me (and probably you!) standing there before my father-in-law, I'm not sure I would have been so quick to listen to his unsolicited advice. After all, Jethro was not one of God's people. He had not been "through the wilderness" with Moses. He was not a certified organizational strategist. Moses had every reason to say, "Hey Jethro, why don't you take your high-falutin' sixth-grade-educatiun double-naught-spy-actin' five-gozinta-ten-countin' britches back the hills ..." Oh, sorry, wrong Jethro.

My point is, we can learn something from Moses here. He listened and followed Jethro's advice because he was humble enough to know that he did not know it all. Moses was flexible to change "his" way of doing things, so he could be more effective and productive in his leadership.

Lord, I recognize that I lack this kind of humility. I need your help to become the person you want me to be. Help me to be flexible and to adjust my "organizational structure" and way of doing things so that the ministry you've given me will grow and flourish. Send me a "Jethro," Lord, who can help me see better ways of carrying out the work of which you've given me stewardship. Help me to delegate responsibilities and share the ownership and leadership of my group, ministry, church, whatever you've called me to.

3 Vital Leadership Principles in the Wilderness

"Then Moses pleaded with the Lord, "What should I do with these people? ... The Lord said to Moses ... Moses did just as he was told ..."

- Exodus 17:4-6

As the Northeast church campus undergoes a lot of messy construction, our senior pastor, Bob Cherry, has compared it to the Israelite's journey in Exodus. It's a good analogy. We're on our way to the "promised land" of a new, bigger auditorium and state-of-the-art student areas. But when parking and exiting and everything in between is inconvenient and sometimes downright difficult, the people are apt to groan and complain. Not only that, but the long walk from the other end of our campus, through mud and snow, winding around through the construction, is a lot like a walk through the wilderness!

And that's why Bob asked the staff to read through Exodus now. I'm enjoying reading this book again and applying it to our current realities. But I'm seeing much more than what I was looking for. Exodus is a true-to-life parable of our journey as Christ-followers--and as spiritual leaders.

Moses displayed three great spiritual leadership principles in this passage in chapter 17. The principles are pretty simple, yet so vital to leading effectively.

1. When faced with a problem, Moses went immediately and directly to God for help. On this occasion, at least, he did not try to figure it out himself or come up with a solution by his own power. Recognizing God as the real leader is the most important attribute of leading successfully. You and I must understand our leadership role as a matter of stewardship.
2. When God spoke, Moses listened. Moses had become attuned to God's voice and leadership. He did not argue with God here as he had earlier (e.g. Ex. 3:11; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:22; 6:12). Moses had learned to to trust God. He knew now that apart from God, he could do nothing (John 15:5).
3. Moses obeyed God, even if it didn't make a lot of common sense. A leader after God's heart does not suggest to God a better, more logical way to carry out His plans. He or she does just what God tells the leader to do ... with an eager expectation of seeing God do His work in a way only He can do.

Father, I want to be a leader after your own heart, just as Moses modeled here--just as Jesus modeled throughout his earthly ministry. Help me to go directly to you before doing or saying anything. Not my will, but yours be done! Help me to hear your voice clearly today, Lord. Help me to distinguish your voice from all the competing voices out there. I want to listen to you and follow you each step of the Way. Give me strength to obey you, Lord, even if it may not make sense from my own small point of view. As I obey you, I eagerly expect you to do what only you can do.

Trials Along the Trails

"At the Lord's command, the people of Israel left the Sin Desert and moved from place to place." 

- Exodus 17:1, NLT

For us as leaders, life is more than just setting a goal and then achieving it. God works in our lives, families, small groups, and churches in the midst of the journey, as we move from place to place. Often that journey is longer and harder than we had hoped, planned, or imagined. Always we face trials along the trails. But God is at work during the journey, leading us, guiding us, maturing us, and working through us.

What the Israelites forgot and we must remember is that the same God who has led the way on the journey will provide for us during that journey. The question is not always, "How quickly can we get to the destination?" but "What can we be learning along the way? How can God use us during this part of the journey?"

Lord, just as you led the Israelites by a pillar of cloud at day and a pillar of light at night, you guide us along our journeys today. As you lead us to your Promised Land, we know you are with us, even in the wilderness, even in our times of trials and tests. You will not leave us nor forsake us. You are for us, so who can be against us? As I walk with you today on this part of the journey, help me to sense your presence with me.