PURE LEADERSHIP

We, who are called to ministry and marketplace leadership, must purify ourselves on a daily basis.


“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:1-3 NIV)


Yesterday, I missed my morning quiet time for the first time in many months. I could tell that there was a decreased connectedness with Christ. Just as the people of Israel depended on fresh manna on a daily basis, so we too need a fresh connection with Christ every single day.


DAILY PURIFICATION
“All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 NIV)
No matter how mature we are as Christ-followers, there is no substitute for our daily purification before Christ. We are all His children, and those that have been called to leadership are even more accountable for role modeling the behavior all Christ-followers should be engaged in. One such discipline is purification.


Personally, I find this happens best in my daily quiet times. It is here that I can ask Christ to search my heart and reveal anything that I may have on my soul that has displeased Him.


It is a daily discipline.


FOUR DAILY DISCIPLINES
I am reminded of the A.C.T.S. methodology that I often employ in my quiet times:

• A = Adoration; starting off our prayer time praising Christ for the love he has for us.
  
• C = Confession; repenting of any sins on our soul.
  
• T = Thanksgiving; giving thanks for all the many blessings from Christ.
  
• S = Supplication; articulating our requests to God.
  
  
  

These four disciplines should happen throughout our day on a regular basis. It is a “basic” of our walk with Christ.


THE BEAUTIFUL BASICS
For many of you, what I am saying may seem remedial. However, I would remind you that even the best sports athletes go back to the basics to stay in top condition. May we all employ these spiritual disciplines for our daily purification.


Yesterday’s manna is not the fresh bread of life that is most nourishing for our souls. Also, Christ-followers who are leaders must role model this behavior for others.


CONCLUSION
Today, in my quiet time before writing this blog post, Christ reminded me that I am His child. At 66 years old, I am still a child? Yes!


When I come into the presence of Christ, I feel like a child approaching a totally loving Father.


As I crawl into my Father’s arms, He examines me for blemishes. And, as I submit myself for examination, I feel a wave of spiritual peace and love flow over and through me.


I am at home. My soul connects with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, and I am purified.
All thanks for this be to God, for it is He who purifies us. Amen.


Your aspiring servant, Daniel M.
December 1, 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 own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.