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While results are important, sitting at the feet of Jesus is more critical to our success.
TRUE SUCCESS The question we have to ask ourselves surrounds this topic. What is success? Is getting things accomplished a way of measuring my value? How does Jesus answer these questions? In the Gospel of Luke, we find a profound lesson in the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy with all the preparations, but Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His teaching. Jesus said to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV). CHRIST IS SUFFICIENT This passage reminds us that being in the presence of Jesus and absorbing His wisdom is often more valuable than the busy work in which we often consume our time. Success in leadership, according to the Bible, is not measured by the quantity of our achievements but by the quality of our relationship with God and our faithfulness to His calling. ACTIONS TO TAKE For me, I will purpose to spend more time at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning. Every morning, I will open God’s Word and spend time in prayer and meditating on Scriptures upon which He leads me to reflect. How about you? Do you allow yourself to get worried or upset when things don’t go your way? Why does Jesus say that “few things are needed—or indeed only one”? What is the one thing that is most needed? Are we pursuing that one thing, or the many things that don’t matter, and neglecting that “one thing”? SURRENDERING TO CHRIST’S SUFFICIENCY May we all spend more time at the feet of Jesus. And may we all realize that our drive to perform can get in the way of our willingness to surrender, sit with Christ, and be fully satisfied that it is sufficient. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 30, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Are you driven to perform?
Many leaders are. We seem to be constantly striving to achieve more. It appears to be an internal drive within most of us. Whether you are in vocational, bi-vocational, or workplace ministry, there is a natural tendency to be overly driven to produce results. By the way, if by chance you don’t think any of these preceding three categories describe you, please consider this scripture: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV) ALL OF US ARE IN FULL-TIME MINISTRY We are all called to full-time ministry, wherever we are and whatever we are doing. If you are reading this, you are working. And, our work, in and of itself, brings glory and honor to Christ. From changing a diaper to transforming a country, whatever it is that we are doing is able to bring honor and glory to Christ. It depends on our attitude and how we approach the work. ALL OF US ARE LEADERS Likewise, if you don’t think you are a leader, please think again. The word “leader” is often misunderstood, and we conjure up pictures in our minds of larger-than-life leaders, compare ourselves to that image, and quickly dismiss the idea that we are one. Not so fast. Try this idea on for size. The synonym for the word leader is “influencer.” And everyone has the capacity to influence others in their own way. Some influence (lead) our youth, some influence adolescents, and others influence adults. Some have small circles of influence, and others have very large ones. It matters not the size. God cares equally about our work, and He cares most about our attitude toward it. ALL OF US WANT TO PERFORM We all want to perform to some degree. The question is: “Who are we performing for?” May our answer be Jesus. May we realize that he cares more about our heart and attitude toward work than he does about what we actually produce. CONCLUSION All of us are called to full-time ministry. There is no one exempt from this commission by Christ. Likewise, all of us are leaders in our own sphere of influence, and as Christ-followers, we want to perform good works for the glory of Christ. The key question to answer is this: “Am I performing for the Lord?” Am I trying to please Christ, or man? And, how can I move more toward pleasing Christ, and be less concerned about pleasing myself or others? Until we meet again tomorrow, I remain your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 29, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. There is much more that can be said about conflict resolution, God’s way. I have barely scratched the surface in this four-part series on conflict resolution. Please allow me to pause here and ask: “What else would Christ Jesus want to say to us about conflict resolution?"
Here are some promptings, perhaps of the Holy Spirit, that are rising to the surface:
Creating Less Conflict:
Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 26, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Whenever I find myself in conflict with anyone or anything, I need to look at my part. There is almost always some personal culpability. It’s a very helpful practice in resolving conflict, but often very hard to do.
When we find ourselves in interpersonal conflict, many of us have a tendency to look at the other person and what they did or did not do to cause the conflict. I grew up in a household where my parents were the referees when my brother, sister, and I had conflicts over toys and the like. There was always an inquiry into who did what. We each had to give our side of the conflict - our version of the events - to the authority that was going to make a judgment. Who was right? Who was wrong? Consequently, we became good at making our case for “I’m right; they’re wrong.” I became very skilled in this process from a young age. Often told I should become an attorney for my skill in arguing and proving culpability and fault, I was pre-law in the first year of college. Thanks be to God I changed careers! What does Jesus Christ say about our desire to determine “who is right” and “who is wrong”? Let’s look at Scriptures together and see. I will not say anything more on the subject, but let God’s Word inform me and you. See what you think. WHAT SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT FINDING FAULT WITH OTHERS? "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3 NIV) WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TAKE THE SPEC OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE FIRST? "First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5 NIV) DO I EVER GET TO TAKE THE PLANK OUT OF MY FELLOW’S EYE? "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." (Galatians 6:1 NIV) CONCLUSION The teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament offer profound wisdom on the subject of conflict resolution. They emphasize the importance of self-reflection and personal accountability before addressing the faults in others. By first examining and correcting our own shortcomings, we become better equipped to help others with kindness and understanding, embodying the spirit of compassion and humility. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 25, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Today, we will delve into the internal resolution of conflict within ourselves. Many pastors and ministry leaders may appear calm, peaceful, and serene on the outside, while internally experiencing turmoil due to conflicts with others. We can resemble ducks on a still lake, portraying tranquility, yet beneath the water, our feet are rapidly paddling away from perceived threats to our well-being.
The slightest conflict with someone can throw off my day. I can forget who I am (a child of God) and to whom I belong (the creator and ruler of all things, seen and unseen). Does this happen to you, too? My work with pastors and ministry leaders over the past few decades has taught me that even the best leaders struggle with this topic. So, if conflict and strife cause you angst, you are far from alone. For me, three reasons explain why this happens:
CARING TOO MUCH WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK When we find that someone does not like us, agree with our opinion, or is critical of us, it can cause a host of human emotions that disturb our peace in Christ. If we live our lives based on what others think, then we are worshiping the false god of public opinion. We cannot be effective Christ-followers and Christian leaders if we live our lives in pursuit of the acceptance of others. Scriptures that support this include:
Many of us like to believe that everyone likes us, and we often go out of our way to ensure that it is the case by doing or saying things to others to gain some type of positive affirmation that we are liked and accepted in our social circle of influence. The truth is, not everyone likes us or how we are. People that don’t know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior particularly may not like us if we express our love and adoration for God, and our commitment to being a Christ-follower. Scriptures that support this include:
It is easy to think that our value comes from what others say about us. Self-esteem, the esteem we give ourselves, has to be solely based on God’s Word, for us to avoid this tendency of over-valuing the opinion of others. What God says about us is that we are fully and wholly loved children of the most-high God of all, and we are totally loved and accepted by Him. As Christ-followers, we need to lean on Scripture for our identity. Scriptures that support this include:
When we are judged, disrespected, criticized, ostracized, or simply “not liked,” it is an opportunity to review what God says about us and realize that no human defines us. Only God our Father, Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit - The Blessed Triune God of All - only He defines us. Therefore, when we run into conflict, as we all do, we can remember who we truly are and to whom we truly belong. Praise God for this wonderful fact: We are eternal beings having a human experience. Our home is in Heaven, with God, who loves us perfectly, today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen. (NIV) Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 24, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Dear Friends,
God is leading me to work on conflict resolution. As is my custom, the work journaled here has always been what God is showing me, primarily for me to learn and grow. Consequently, sometimes it gets very personal. I pray this transparency will bless you. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION Conflict resolution is a significant theme in the Bible, with various scriptures addressing how to deal with conflicts in a Christ-honoring manner. Here are some key scriptures that provide guidance on this topic. Personally, I have a conflict right now that I am trying to resolve, and I am using this prayer time over the next few days to prepare myself for resolving it in a way that will hopefully honor Christ the most. These are the scriptures I will be studying this week:
These scriptures collectively provide a comprehensive Biblical framework for addressing and resolving conflicts in a manner that aligns with Christian principles of love, forgiveness, humility, and peace. If you are needing to resolve a conflict with someone, I would encourage you to look all of them up as part of your quiet time and see where Christ leads you in this process of conflict resolution. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 23, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. WHO IS THE REAL ENEMY?
We are not each other’s enemy. From the micro-level of two Christ-followers trying to get along, to the global followers of Christ, we are the only army that shoots its own wounded. Whether in two groups in a church, different factions inside a denomination, or even among different denominations, vilifying each other is wrong. Seeing each other as an enemy is sinful. Unity in the body of Christ is essential to stand against the real enemy, Satan. Pastors and ministry leaders must lead the way in modeling this behavior for other Christ-followers to emulate. We must gain and maintain this mindset of “the real enemy.” Consider this Scripture: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV) Satan and his demons want to create strife and destroy relationships. WHAT ARE WE CALLED TO DO? We must be strong and fight back, lest our defenses are penetrated, and the enemy wins the battle of the moment for our mind. I call it “stinking thinking.” The conclusion of this powerful passage in Ephesians ends with: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV) So, if we have an issue with someone, or some group, or some entity, let us pray, keeping in mind who is the real enemy. Let’s be clear: Satan is the enemy; not each other. Let’s always keep an open mind and heart to those who see things differently than we do. May we, who have been called into vocational or bi-vocational ministry, set a good example for others, lest we too fall into sinful behavior dishonoring to Christ our Lord. WHAT’S GOD’S WARNING? We are clearly warned by God: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV) Having a sober mind requires us to control our negative self-talk and our thinking about others. Scripture guides our thinking: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV) Let us always give our brothers and sisters the benefit of the doubt and always remember the war that is raging in the spiritual realm, between Christ and Satan. CONCLUSION “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV) How could I possibly add anything to summarize this topic? Wow. Scripture says it all. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 22, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Are you a human doing or a human being?
For me, I have spent much time being the former and missed out on being the latter. “Being” is a great word. To simply “be.” Generally speaking, I believe men have a harder time with this discipline than women. Most men seem to be wired to “do, do, do.” Perhaps we want to see that we have produced results. It is a sweeping generalization, but we can think of us men as the hunters. We want to slay the beast and drop it on the dinner table. Many women seem to have more patience and are willing to plant seeds, cultivate the soil, and grow a harvest to provide sustenance. My point is that, much of the time, men have more difficulty just “being.” So, if you are a man reading this, you should pay particular attention. And if you are a man who is a leader, even more so. Let’s see what Scripture instructs in the process of “being.” “Come and see what the Lord has done ... He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God ... I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us ...’” (Psalm 46:8-11 NIV) I hear this as a call to pause our busy lives, stop striving, and recognize God's sovereignty and presence. In a world that often values doing over being, these verses remind us that our identity and worth are not tied to our productivity. Similarly, Jesus' words on this subject offer a powerful perspective on "being" in Him. And the result of that “being” is a deep, profound, restful peace. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV) Jesus' yoke is easy, and His burden is light, suggesting that our doing should flow out of our being in Him, rather than being driven by our own efforts. Being versus doing is a “Mary and Martha” comparison. Doing is not a sin, but being at the feet of Jesus is better. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV) Jesus said: “…–or indeed only one.” What do you think he meant there? What is the “one” thing that Christ cares that we most care about? I believe Christ is saying that we need to prioritize our relationship with God and being in His presence over getting caught up in the busyness of tasks and duties. BEING IN CHRIST Being in Christ is what empowers our doing (John 15:4-5). We must stay connected to the vine of Christ and be with Him on a daily basis. A daily quiet time before the Lord is one way to spend more time being with Christ. What are some other ways you can think of to improve in this area? Lastly, in Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul explains that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast. However, he also says that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This passage beautifully captures the essence of the relationship between being and doing - we are first and foremost God's creation, valued and loved, and out of this identity flows our action. CONCLUSION Christ teaches us that our worth and identity are not tied to our achievements or what we produce. He invites us to find rest, identity, and purpose in Him alone. All our actions should flow from our relationship with Him. As we focus on "being" in Him, our "doing" becomes more meaningful and aligned with His will. We now see that this concept of "being" versus "doing" is deeply rooted in biblical teachings. The Bible emphasizes the importance of stillness, reflection, and understanding our identity in God, rather than just focusing on our actions or achievements. Enjoy your “being” in the presence of Christ. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 19, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Two weeks ago, God led me during my quiet time to journal about what Jesus says about discipleship. This grew into a 10-part series on the subject. I am certain there is much more we could explore on this topic. One thing I learned during this series is the vast amount of references Christ made to the many aspects of being His disciple. He provided us with a tremendous amount of guidance, and we have only uncovered a small part.
REVIEW Here is what we did cover:
PRAYER Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank you for your leadership and guidance on being your disciple. We want to do that, Lord, and each of us has various strengths in this area that needs to be leveraged for your glory and honor. Equally, each of us has shortcomings and weaknesses in aspects of being your disciple. We humbly pray that you transform those issues and make us mature, whole, and healthy disciples of yours. Help us to:
Lord, you get all the credit, glory, and honor for anything good that comes out of us, your servants, and your disciples. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 18, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. No discussion on what Jesus has to say about being Christ’s disciple would be complete without addressing multiplication. That is, after all, the heart of Jesus’ method for maturing those who follow Him.
SEVEN PROGRESSIVE, COMPELLING POINTS Here are seven points. Each one builds on the previous one and makes a case for you to make a greater effort to get more involved than you already are in Christ’s multiplication process for all true disciples of Christ.
Go. Make. Disciples. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 17, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. The first seven parts of this series have covered the critical elements of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ:
Luke 14:26 states, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26 NIV) This hyperbolic statement (using 'hate' to mean 'love less by comparison') emphasizes that loyalty to Jesus must come before all other relationships and personal interests. We can define these as “false gods,” which I will address in the following sections: • False gods for pastors and ministry leaders • False gods for everyone else WHO IS REALLY THE GOD OF OUR LIFE? It is easy to give lip service and claim that we worship God. Before I got sober and surrendered my alcohol abuse to Christ in March 1996, I was an expert at keeping up a facade. On the outside, I would claim Christ as Savior and Lord. However, the truth is He was only my Savior. I was the Lord of my life. Money was Lord. Fame was Lord. Power was Lord. I had many Lords. I bowed to many false gods but had not surrendered to the God of All, Christ Jesus. In 1997, I became a pastoral coach, dedicated a significant portion of my time to ministering to pastors. Then, seven years ago, I went a level deeper and formed the non-profit SOLIDpastors.org to better serve pastors and ministry leaders. As I have shed layers of selfish, self-centered behaviors, I have continually renounced the world, which appears to me as a daily process requiring a significant amount of time devoted every day to that endeavor. Like the layers of an onion, I continually see there is another layer Christ is peeling away, bringing me, little by little, into ever greater surrender to Him. I think we are all on this journey, and we will never “arrive” until we are home in Heaven. What do you think? Have you “arrived” at a place where you have no false gods in your life? Before you answer this, please read on. FALSE GODS OF PASTORS AND MINISTRY LEADERS I have met with many pastors and ministry leaders as I turned my life over to serving Christ and serving them. My bubble has burst so many times when I listened carefully and heard these pastors talk about their gods, small “g.” So many have been consumed with: • False humility: they were so self-effacing on the outside (their words and actions to the outside world) and yet inwardly were filled with spiritual pride because of the high degree of humility. They worshipped the god of the “appearance” of holiness. • Power: they had a great deal of personal power and were drunk on the elixir of fame. Their name was on the cover of many books that they gladly had others read, but on the backstage (interior) of their lives, they were a “dirty cup.” The outside was sparkling clean and had a brilliant shine. On the inside, it was a mess. • Approval: they were consumed with wanting the approval of others. Their low self-esteem got in the way of their worship of the one true God, and instead, they worshipped the god of what others thought about them. Passionate about maintaining a positive reputation, they worked overtime to ensure you liked them, and that they had a good relationship with you. But their fragile self-esteem was easily shattered and left behind broken relationships with themselves and others. I could go on and on, but I won’t. The point is that we can have the appearance of a surrendered life and yet not have one. That is why Christ tells us not to judge others. Not only does He say it in the negative sense, for example, accusing someone mentally of a wrong motive. Christ also tells us not to judge in the affirmative sense and making up our minds that we know a certain person is holy because of what they appear to do on the front stage (the public) side of their lives. You never know, my friend, what you will find when you pull back the curtain on many of these supposedly Christ-following leaders. Those who coach, mentor, and disciple pastors would shock you with the horrendous stories of idol worship in the world of vocational and bi-vocational ministry. FALSE GODS OF EVERYONE ELSE We must not have any false Gods before the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The single authority over all that is seen and all that is unseen. Christ is Lord, Master, and Ruler of all. Anything we put ahead of Christ is an idol. The entire Old Testament can be summed up in this phrase: “God said only worship me; man continually disobeyed and worshipped false Gods.” I’m no theologian, but it seems pretty straightforward to me why Christ came. And yet, even those who preach about Him on Sundays or who lead ministries large and small continually put up idols of worship. For those of you not vocational ministry leaders, look at some possible idols for yourself: • Net worth; money; financial stability; security; having ‘enough,’ which is just a little “more” than you have right now; the god of More. • Children; living for them; putting them first ahead of God; worshipping them in subtle ways that appear like good parenting but in the end is idol worship. The god of children. • Time; having free time to do what we want when we want and using our time to indulge in pleasure after pleasure, distraction after distraction, and putting “free time” on a pedestal, ahead of Christ and His Great Commission. We can give lip service to it, but are we involved in Christ’s initiative to reach a hurting and dying world, or are we just doing enough to “look good” to our fellow believers. The god of free time. Like with the list for pastors and ministry leaders, I could go on and on. I won’t. You get the idea. Anything. Repeat: Anything that we put ahead of Christ is an idol. Any activity can turn into idol worship. That is why Christ tells us to “renounce all.” It is a decision of the heart. Nothing can be more important to us than our intimate, personal, day in and day out, continual communion-type relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us daily renounce the world and all its possible idols and false gods, and let us surrender to God the Father, Christ Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 16, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. We have been exploring what Jesus says about discipleship in this multi-part series. Today, in Part 7, we will look at “Counting the Cost.”
In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 14, Jesus Christ has a great deal to say about discipleship, as He does throughout Scriptures. As we look at all that it means to be a disciple of Christ, several things have become apparent:
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” (Luke 14:28-30 NIV) It is not the cost of starting on the Christ-following journey that Christ is addressing here. He is urging us to look at the cost of finishing well. Sadly, many Christian pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries do not finish well. Likewise, many marketplace Christ-followers fail in this area too. As it has been said: “Anyone can start something; only a few can finish well what they have started.” FINISHING WELL “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV) What is this prize? I think the prize on this earth is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). And, of course, the prize in Heaven is eternal love, joy, peace, and more. WARNING FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS Friends, we all need to count the cost of following Christ. This especially applies to anyone who is a vocational Christian leader or has the gift of leadership. We are warned by Scriptures: “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1 NIV) For those of us in ministerial leadership roles of any sort, we must be willing to be transparent and accountable to those we lead. That “cost” comes with the job, and the privilege of teaching God’s Word comes with great responsibility and a heavy cost for failing to follow Christ’s Scriptures in our own lives and with those closest to us. STEADY PATH, SAME DIRECTION The metaphors (building a home or finishing a race) are wonderful reminders that finishing well is what counts. An unfinished house or race is not a noteworthy accomplishment. In order to be an effective disciple of Christ, I need to pace myself to make sure I cross the finish line of this life with accomplishments that are wholly pleasing to Christ Jesus. My works do not save me. But as we know: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17 NIV) If we follow Christ in a “steady path in the same direction,” we will arrive where He wants us to go. That obedience is like a thousand-mile walk. It’s accomplished one step at a time. May we all have consistently vibrant relationships with the living God who calls us to be His faithful disciples. CONCLUSION Let us all count the cost, and let us finish well, as good and faithful servants and true disciples of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 15, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Bearing fruit is a main marker of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, there are myriad expectations laid out for us that prove to ourselves and others if we are actual disciples of Christ or simply along for a walk with Jesus, following behind, out of earshot of what the Master of the Universe is saying to his disciples.
Let’s get close and listen in. This is what we hear from Christ: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8 NIV) And then we hear Jesus say: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16 NIV) After many more expectations being set for us to be considered true disciples, he finishes with this: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27 NIV) MISTAKEN FRUIT For many years, I mistakenly believed that the ultimate “fruit” was someone receiving Jesus Christ as their savior. I see this erroneous belief play out in the lives of fellow Christ-followers as well. If we are not super careful, we can let pride enter in as we subtly brag: “I led that person to Christ.” God taught me that this is not true, and that Christ leads people to Himself. My fruit is simply that I was used by God to facilitate the conversation. This scripture is what the SOLIDpastors ministry is based on: “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19 NIV) The relevant words here regarding “mistaken fruit” are “The Lord knows those who are his...” – Christ is doing the work of drawing people to follow Him. I am simply to be a servant to my Master, humbly being obedient to the work he sets before me. So if this is not the ultimate “fruit” of discipleship, what is? As always, we can find the answers to our questions in the sacred Scriptures. ULTIMATE FRUIT The phrase "bearing fruit" in the Bible is often used metaphorically to refer to producing good works or positive qualities as a result of one's faith and relationship with God. Consider this scripture: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:22-26 NIV) This is the ultimate model of spiritual growth and character development. A disciple bears fruit in his or her character. I would say that is the ultimate fruit. OTHER FRUIT Here are four other ideas along the same lines, for your consideration:
“Bearing fruit" is a rich metaphor that encompasses the production of good works, development of Christian virtues, evidence of true faith, and living a life that is in line with God’s will and purposes. And most importantly, it defines a true disciple of Christ. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 12, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31b NKJV)
To abide is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “to continue for a long time: ENDURING.” Jesus continually leads us to the Bible to teach us what he means. Other translations illuminate the definition of the word “abide:” “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.'” (John 8:31 NLT) STEPS OF ABIDING So, as Christ’s disciples, we are led to progressively mature in our walk. I suggest that this is a progressive process that includes the following steps:
• Consistent study of God’s Word - The Bible • Faithful adherence to Christ’s teachings found in the Bible. • Enduring, continuing, and lasting implementation of Christ’s teachings. CONSISTENCY Consistency is key. Faithfulness requires daily surrender. Daily surrender requires times throughout the day for specific, intentional study of God’s Word, dialogue with Christ, and meditation on Scriptures. These are the three essential ingredients of an effective quiet time: • Reading/studying the Bible with a focus on doing what it tells us to do. • Communicating with Christ in open, honest, transparent dialogue. • Reflecting and meditating on Scriptures and memorizing especially meaningful passages. DANGERS OF NOT ABIDING Speaking for many, we simply can’t imagine starting our day without a solid hour devoted to the above. For many years, I spent far less time, and the results manifested in an inconsistent walk with Christ. True disciples of Christ need to consistently abide. Otherwise, several things may happen: • The many distractions of this world cause us to forget our mission here on earth: The Great Commission, and we once again start living for ourselves and our own selfish, self-centered desires. We may be Christ-followers, but we would not be described as Christ’s disciples. • Our flesh can dominate our Spirit, and we waver in our devotion and surrender. This leads to a gradual slipping away from intimacy with Christ and a greater embracing of worldly values. We may be going through all the motions of being a Christ-follower, and seen as even a Pastor, Ministry Leader, or Christian non-profit organizational leader. But on the inside, where only Christ has true insight, we are living our own lives, and serving ourselves more than Christ. • Seemingly little sins start creeping in, like objectifying women. Gradually, these little sins become greater, like watching pornography. This often progresses to marital unfaithfulness, and all the many consequences of that failure. CONCLUSION There is an epidemic of moral failure within the ranks of Christian Pastors and Ministry Leaders. Failure does not start at the moment of lusting. It is way before that, with a slip in the consistency of abiding. It is easy to get so caught up in “doing” discipleship that we forget about “being” a disciple. It is easy to over-index on sermon delivery on Sundays and forget about the “love delivery” to our families. Discipleship starts at home, in our daily times of abiding with Christ, and our daily interaction with those closest to us. We are called to role model behavior for those we lead. If all we do is get a head full of Jesus’ teachings and don’t implement them in our daily lives, consistently, throughout our entire time on earth, then we are failing in the “abiding” process in which Christ is urging us to engage. We are the proverbial “clanging cymbal.” Let us all walk the walk and consistently abide in Christ. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 11, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ." Today’s devotional continues with the second part of “360-Degree Love.” This discipleship series explores what it means to be a disciple, the defining characteristic of a follower of Christ. Yesterday, we examined the North-South relationship between us and God, as informed by the scripture:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV) Visualizing God’s love as points on a compass, we think of it descending from the North. We reciprocate by loving God back, from the South. However, there's more to this 360-degree love. The East/West corridor of God’s love is a rich space where we can shower ourselves and others with the love of Christ and bask in the glow of being fully loved, and fully loving others. To the West (self-love) and the East (love of our fellows) are the natural results of having a mature, intimate North-South relationship. WEST - SELF-LOVE Once we fully accept God’s love, we are free to love ourselves with Christ’s love. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NIV) God loves us, and we can intellectually accept that love, but if it only stays intellectual assent, we have failed to do what Christ tells us. Consider Christ’s second greatest commandment: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV) Yesterday, I wrote that if we don’t accept His love for us, we are handicapped. To add to that thought today, I would say we are also handicapped if we can’t take Christ’s love and allow it to envelop and consume us. I also wrote this yesterday: “We cannot give to others what we have not received from Christ.” So, receiving God’s love is a precursor to self-love and all effective discipleship. One last quote from yesterday: “Without fully embracing the unconditional, never-ending flow of God’s love into our being, we will never be able to give this love to others. And failing to do so is the antithesis of being a disciple of Christ.” EAST - LOVE OF OTHERS Almost nothing needs to be said about this vector except that this is the culmination of North, South, and West love routes. Christ loves us so that we can love others. He demonstrated His love for us as a role model for us to follow. In Christ’s words: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV) CONCLUSION Major markers of discipleship can be thought of as the four major headings on a compass. We love God with all our hearts (North). We love the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the triune Godhead, because of God’s love for us. We fully accept Christ’s love (South). We love ourselves with Christ’s love (West). We love others with the love of Christ as we love ourselves with that same love (East). Yesterday’s conclusion is the same as today’s summary: As a result of this primary love relationship that we prioritize above all others, our North-South relationship becomes obvious to others, and we role model what it means to have intimacy with Christ. But it can’t stop here. The East-West corridor of loving self and loving others must be replete with a bountiful flow of Christ’s unconditional love for us, and the world, to have a complete picture of the omnidirectional, pervasive, never-ending love of God. By this love, all will know we are Christ’s loving disciples. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 10, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Christ had a lot to say about discipleship. Today’s reflection is on “360-Degree Love,” the defining characteristic of a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, God Incarnate, the Son of Man.
Consider Jesus’ words: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV) As I read this, I think of the four major directional headings of a compass: North, South, East, and West. NORTH As we gaze up to the heavens, we realize the amazing majestic splendor of God our Father. Contemplating the entirety of Old Testament history and our continual compulsion to sinful idol worship, we repent. Our love for God grows as we grasp the full impact of Jesus Christ, his sacrificial offering on our behalf, and the mercy God has for us through Him. The unmerited favor we have found in the arms of God Himself overwhelms us with such good news that even the hardest of hearts softens as God’s grace is revealed, and we love God more. As our hearts are healed by the power of this amazing love, our love for God grows deeper and wider. This intimate love for God, surpassing any and all loves in our life, is one of four ways that others can tell we are true disciples of Christ. There are three more. Let’s look to the South. SOUTH The opposite of us looking up at God (North) is God looking down on us (South). Our heavenly Father loves us more than any of us will ever fully grasp. No matter how much time and energy we devote to this love relationship, there is always another level of intimacy we can attain. We will only reach total intimacy in Christ when, in Heaven, we see Him face to face. Until then, we must continue to carve out daily times throughout our day to sit with God and work on that love relationship. It is a continuous improvement process that takes daily nurturing, devotion, and therefore time. As with our love for God, it is only possible because God first loved us. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NIV) God loves us, but it is up to us to receive that love. If we don’t accept His love for us, we are handicapped. We cannot give to others what we have not received from Christ. So receiving God’s love is a precursor to all discipleship. Without fully embracing the unconditional, never-ending flow of God’s love into our being, we will never be able to give this love to others. And failing to do so is the antithesis of being a disciple of Christ. EAST and WEST Tomorrow we will explore the East/West corridor of love. To the West (self-love) and the East (love of our fellows) are the natural result of having a mature, intimate North-South relationship. CONCLUSION Major markers of discipleship can be thought of as the four major headings on a compass. We love God with all our hearts (North). We love the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the triune Godhead, because of God’s love for us. We fully accept Christ’s love (South). As a result of this primary love relationship that we prioritize above all others, it becomes obvious to others that we are disciples of Christ. But it can’t stop here. The East-West corridor of loving self and loving others must be replete with a bountiful flow of Christ’s unconditional love in order for us, and the world, to have a complete picture of the omnidirectional, pervasive, never-ending love of God. By this love, all will know we are Christ’s loving disciples. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 9, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be good at saying “no” to our flesh, saying “yes” to Christ, and bearing our cross, and following in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord. "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24 NIV) What we hear from this passage is:
• Deny Ourselves (following the flesh) • Take up our cross (being led by the Holy Spirit) • Follow Christ (in obedience) DENYING OURSELVES What does it mean to deny ourselves? “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way ... “ (Matthew 16:24a NLT) I need to say “no” to the desires of my flesh. As Christ said: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing ...” (John 6:63a NIV) Saying “no” to my selfish, self-centered desires is required in order to have the room to say “yes” to Christ’s Holy Spirit. Renouncing selfish ambitions, worldly desires, and our own plans and priorities gives us the freedom submit completely to God's will and to put His purposes above our own. For me, it requires daily surrender. That is why a daily quiet time of prayer and meditation on God’s Word is so critical. Without this daily reminder, I find it is easy to slip away from the complete surrender to Christ that being a Christ-following disciple requires. TAKING UP OUR CROSS What does it mean to take up our cross? The cross symbolizes suffering and persecution. Jesus is emphasizing that being His disciple involves enduring hardships and self-denial for the sake of the Gospel. In Jesus’ time, the cross was a symbol of shame, suffering, and the most brutal form of Roman execution. For Christ’s audience, the idea of taking up one's cross would have been associated with being condemned to death. The command to "take up their cross" is a call to radical discipleship. It signifies a total commitment to Christ, even unto death. This may include suffering and persecution for the sake of Christ. Just as Jesus suffered and was persecuted, we should expect no less. This can manifest in various forms, from social ostracism and ridicule to physical suffering or even martyrdom. In most parts of the world, Christ-followers today are soft, un-tested, and overly comfortable as Christians. We find it hard to even sacrifice an hour per day of our precious time to devote to prayer, mediation on Scriptures, and listening to the Holy Spirit. We jump out of bed and into “our” day, as if it belongs to us. We do “our” thing, as if what Christ wants does not matter. We are self-willed, self-driven, and self-motivated to accomplish whatever it is that will provide us comfort. Christ calls us to suffer for him. That means we must sacrifice our will and our way, and we can start by making more time for Him, as we sit quietly, read our Bibles, and listen for His gentle whisper which informs our day. FOLLOWING CHRIST What does it mean to follow Christ? I think of it as walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Having his thoughts. Having his emotions. And surrendering to His Father’s will. For him, that included a real cross. For us, that cross is symbolic of the death to self, so we may be fully alive to Christ. Bearing one's cross is inextricably linked to following Jesus. It's not merely about suffering or self-denial in isolation but doing so in the context of a relationship with Christ and in obedience to Him. It's about following His example, adhering to His teachings, and living out the principles He embodied. Let us challenge superficial forms of Christianity that don't require significant life changes. Let us commit to a deep, transformative, and sometimes costly discipleship. The cross is not just the symbol of Christ's sacrifice but also a symbol of the cost and the shape of Christian discipleship. It's about the willingness to give up everything, endure anything, and go anywhere for the sake of Christ and the gospel. CONCLUSION In the words of James the Just, brother of Jesus, and pillar of the Church: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV) Self-deception is alive and well in today’s Christian community. Anywhere we look, we can find most Christians, myself included, over-indexing on making ourselves comfortable, and under-indexing on following the example of Christ by denying ourselves, and taking up our cross. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 8, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. All Christ-followers are called to make disciples. But what does it mean to be a disciple?
Jesus spoke extensively about discipleship, outlining the commitment, challenges, and rewards associated with following Him. In my effort to be a better disciple, God has led me to study what it means to be a true, Christ-following disciple. I’ll share my insights with you for the next several days. Today, we will look at the “commitment” aspect of being a disciple of Christ. TOTAL COMMITMENT Dedication is one of the primary qualities that Christ asks for from us to be called His disciples. “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:33 NIV) Jesus calls all Christ-followers to total dedication. What does that mean? Is Christ serious? Everything? We ask: “Must I really give up everything to follow you, Lord?” We sense Christ’s response: “Yes, child. I want you to put me first in everything that you do.” This is a radical call that is difficult to hear because it is so hard. True discipleship requires sublimating all people, places, and things to God. Everything is a distant second to Christ Jesus our Lord. I can wrap my mind around this intellectually, and even with my heart, but in practical, day-to-day things, it seems impossible. Thank God for encouraging Scriptures like: “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV) CONCLUSION God gives us grace. We fail all the time in this “total commitment” that is required of us. For me, I am grateful for God’s grace. He knows I am human, and that I easily forget to stay completely and utterly surrendered to Him, so I can give Him my total commitment. That said, I will never stop trying to improve my level of dedication and devotion to being the best Christ-follower and imitator of Christ that I can be. I know you want this too. I’m grateful we are brothers and sisters in Christ walking down this discipleship road together, arm in arm, united in our purpose: To glorify God as faithful, dedicated disciples of Christ. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 5, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Today, God led me on a deep journey into the meaning of true freedom. It was eye-opening for me, and I hope it is for you as well.
As ministry and marketplace leaders, it is critical that we model the right behavior for all Christ-followers. Sadly, there are never-ending examples of well-known, well-respected Christian leaders who abuse their freedom and deeply hurt many. WORLD’S DEFINITION OF FREEDOM Many ministry and marketplace leaders use the world’s definition of freedom to do what we want, when we want, and how we want. We make decisions without consulting Christ, scriptures, or Godly mentors and assume that because we are in Christ and living Godly lives, we can do as we please. This is not what Jesus teaches. The world teaches independence, but Christ teaches us total dependence—on Him. For me, it means a daily, complete surrender to Christ as Lord. To quote a brother in Christ: “Freedom in Christ is not the right to do what we want, but the ability to do what we ought.” - Jim Daly, President; Focus on the Family DEFINITION OF TRUE FREEDOM The world’s definition of freedom is fatally flawed. Even the most devoted and faithful Christ-following ministry and marketplace leaders go astray by allowing the world to influence our understanding. There is a constant pull, like the force of gravity, to keep us grounded in our flesh. However, our Spirit is free to surrender to Christ, as it is written: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature, a slave to the law of sin.” (Romans 7:25 NIV). Just like with gravity, if we don’t fight against it, we will live life laying down. We must stand. Action to Take: Stand in Christ by the power of God’s Word and consistently and persistently fight the pull of the flesh, our sinful nature, and rise up in the freedom of our Christ-nature. As it is written: “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14) USE OF FREEDOM We are called to use our freedom to love God, ourselves, and others. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:13-14 NIV). We are told not to use freedom to fulfill our sinful, selfish, self-centered natures (our flesh). Action to Take: Use the vast freedom we have in Christ to solely love God, ourselves, and others with and by the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit. BEYOND FREEDOM As Christ-followers, we transcend the bondage of this world and are ushered into the world of Christ’s Spirit: “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child, and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7 NIV). It is one of the most profound and difficult concepts to grasp: We are co-heirs with Christ, as it is written: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17 NIV). Action to Take: Live life in great humility with the full embodiment of being a co-heir with Christ. The operative words here are “great humility.” Without humility, powerful, anointed ministry and marketplace leaders collapse in abject failure. And this collapse happens internally, long before the defeat becomes public. CONCLUSION Let’s remember the true freedom we have, which is the ability to completely and utterly surrender to Christ and His leadership as we lead others to do likewise. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 4, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Reflecting back on the last two posts, “Jesus on Leadership” and “Jesus on Teaching,” I find myself asking: “What is the most important teaching of Jesus?” It will be no surprise that “Jesus on Love” is the answer to that question and today’s subject of this devotional.
How does love factor into the equation for ministry and marketplace leaders? As a fervent student of leadership for more than three decades, I have never seen love listed as a leadership competency. Have you? If it is really Jesus’ greatest teaching, then why is it not taught by leadership “experts” as a core competency for leaders? Consider the words of Christ Jesus when asked: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40, NIV) I don’t have a good answer to my question of “why is love not taught as a core leadership principle?” You would think that this would be the very first principle we study as we learn how to lead others. Let’s ask that question of our Lord and Master, Christ Jesus. QUESTION FOR CHRIST Lord Jesus, why is your greatest commandment not taught as the most critical skill throughout the world of leadership training? I sense God is saying that this world and all its so-called “wisdom” is passing away, but that His Word will never pass away. How do you think that Christ is answering this question? Maybe: • You are living in a fallen world. What do you expect? • Man knows almost nothing compared to all that is known by me. • Because this answer doesn’t sell books. As you ask Christ the answer to this question, what do you sense He is saying to you? Please write me and tell me what you hear. WHY ASK WHY? In the final analysis, my conclusion is this: “Why ask why?” Why wonder why the world in all its supposed wisdom does not teach love of God, self, and others as the most important factors in making a great leader? Fellow Christ-followers, we know that God’s Word is true. We know that God’s greatest demonstration of love is found in Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV) No greater love has ever been witnessed by the world, that God took on our humanity, to demonstrate for us how to lead with totally unconditional, completely sacrificial, and absolutely perfect love. Jesus Christ is the single best role model for ministry and marketplace leaders who desire to grow their leadership skills and abilities to the next level. Christ gave us the greatest leadership competencies to work on: Love of God, self, and others. We need look no further than this: “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free.” (Mark 10:45, NIRV) LOVE OF GOD I must love God with all of me; every facet; every fiber of my being. As I strive to do this, it serves as a role model for others to likewise love others with the love of Christ. LOVE OF SELF As I fully accept all of God’s love for me, I must embrace that love and allow myself to love myself, knowing my redeemed spirit is God’s holy and sacred creation. I need to honor God’s life in me with God’s love for that eternal life. LOVE OF OTHERS As I receive God’s love and reciprocate by loving God with my all in all. Then I can and must share this love with all of humanity. That includes all those that are easy to love, and all those that are hard to love. The never-ending love of God has a never-ending well we can draw from to give a never-ending stream of love to all people, everywhere. ACTIONS TO TAKE May we realize the total enormity of God’s love for us, may we love ourselves with that unconditional love, and may we freely give of this inexhaustible supply of love to all. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 3, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1 NIV)
Dear Lord, please help those of us who teach your Word to stay true to all that you are saying. It is a sacred honor and trust you have given to us, and we must be faithful servants, carrying your message accurately, in all that we do and all we say. As Paul advised Timothy, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV). Let us be diligent in our study and faithful in our application. HYPOCRISY AND SINFULNESS Friends, there is so much hypocrisy today in the church. As it was in the days when Jesus physically walked the earth, so too today, there are many who claim to follow Christ but are putting on a false appearance of virtue they do not actually possess. Many teachers of God’s Holy Word contradict their stated beliefs, values, and feelings with their hidden behaviors. Using pornography, lying, slandering others, emotionally abusing spouses or family members, and other hidden sins may go unchecked for years. What’s worse, many of these teachers grow in popularity while they are living these hypocritical lives. Jesus Himself warned us about such behavior, saying, “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You clean the outside of a cup and dish. But on the inside, you are full of greed. You only want to satisfy yourselves” (Matthew 23:25 NIRV). This stark reminder calls for a deep self-examination and a commitment to authenticity and holiness. AUTHENTICITY AND OBEDIENCE Anyone who teaches God’s Word must live their lives in obedience to God’s Word as found in the Holy Bible. Our actions on the stage of public life have to be congruent with our behavior behind the scenes, with our closest relationships, and with Christ Jesus Himself. The apostle James warns, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22 NIV). It's not enough to know the Word; we must embody it, letting it transform us from the inside out. In this journey, let us not forget the grace that our Lord Jesus Christ offers. We all fall short, but His love and forgiveness are available to us. As we teach, let us also be humble learners at the feet of Jesus, constantly seeking His wisdom and guidance. "But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). ACTIONS TO TAKE As we strive to live a life free from hypocrisy, let's encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and pray for the strength to live out the truth we teach. May our teaching not just be with words, but with a life that echoes the love, truth, and holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 2, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Ministry and marketplace leaders who follow Christ and His teachings have the words of Jesus to rely on when it comes to learning how to be better leaders.
As I did research for this "Jesus on Leadership," I was struck by the main message Jesus delivered for Christ-following ministry and marketplace leaders, namely:
The greatest leader the world has ever seen said, "Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free." (Mark 10:45 NIRV) Another gospel writer reported another teaching time: "Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.'" (Matthew 20:25-26 NIV) Question to consider: What can I do this year to be a better servant leader? HUMILITY A central element of servant leadership is humility. Without great humility, it is impossible to fulfill the role Christ Jesus laid out for leaders. Consider this: "Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.'" (Mark 9:35 NIV) Taking a differential position is essential to lead like Christ led, for: "The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Matthew 23:11-12 NIV) Question to Consider: What can I do this year to be more humble? SELF-SACRIFICE Along with a humble servant’s heart, a willingness to sacrifice everything in leading others is a required trait. How many ministry and marketplace leaders truly behave like this? Consider the words of Christ: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11 NIV) How many of us lead by the example that Jesus gave us? He clearly said: "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:15 NIV) Question to Consider: What can I do this year to be more self-sacrificial? CONCLUSION As we begin this year, let us allow these verses to inform our leadership style. Let us reflect on Jesus' teachings regarding serving others, humility, and self-sacrifice. Distinct from most secular views on leadership, Christ’s perspective gives us a clear roadmap for how us Christ-following leaders are to lead others. PRAYER Lord Jesus, please help us lead others with your heart of servanthood, humility, and self-sacrifice. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 1, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. To be a good leader, we must be good followers.
Ministry and marketplace leaders have several important things in common. As leaders, we have followers, and equally, we follow other leaders. As Christ-followers, we follow Christ first, and then those who are placed in authority over us. Today’s scripture informs us, Christ-following leaders, of something very important: the responsibility God has placed on our shoulders. Consider: “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” (Hebrews 13:17 NIV) The image that comes to mind is a shepherd keeping watch over their sheep. We must give an account of our leadership. We will surely also give an account of our follower-ship. How well did we follow Christ? How well did we follow those placed in authority over us? Several scriptures come to mind, warning those of us in leadership roles. Consider: "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1 NIV) Also, see Luke 12:48, 1 Peter 5:2-4, and Matthew 20:25-28. I believe this applies to anyone in a vocational ministry or marketplace leadership role. As leaders, these scriptures remind us that our positions are not just of influence but also of profound responsibility and accountability before God. We are called to lead with integrity, humility, and a servant's heart, always mindful of the divine scrutiny we are under and the example we set for others to follow. CONCLUSION Those under our leadership, be they few or many, must have confidence in us. For others’ confidence to be well-placed, we must be good followers. As leaders, may we learn the art and science of follower-ship and follow well. In closing, here is a scripture that informs us on how to lead and how to follow: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your interests but each of you to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV) As Matthew 20:25-28 and Mark 10:45 teach us, as leaders, our primary responsibility is to serve those God has given us to lead. May we lead well, in both vocational ministry and the marketplace. Wherever we are placed, whatever we do, may Christ-followers in positions of leadership excel at both leading and following. And may we all closely follow Christ Jesus our Lord. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 29, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your intimate, daily conversations with Christ. |
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