Holy Discontent

Mark 11:15 “On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written:
” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.”

Observation: Jesus was disgusted with what had become of the temple. We have been reading in the OT that God lived in the temple. It was a sacred place. Now, there were dudes selling sacrificial animals for an inflated price. They were gouging the people. Jesus said enough was enough and went to town!

Application: Jesus wasn’t a wimp. And nothing fired him up more than people turning their faces away from God. So he got mad! Really mad! And he didn’t sin. So I think it’s ok when we see things that are wrong and it drives us crazy. It’s called righteous indignation or Holy Discontent. When you see that something is wrong and needs to be right…get mad about it and make it right!

Prayer: Thank you God for sending us a man who mad a moral compass!

Servant Leadership 201

There are a few verses I want to look at in Mark 10: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” and “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” and “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

Observation: In Mark 9 we see the concepts of servant leadership taught by Jesus. We was trying to change the culture of the time and teach that to be a great leader, you must be a great servant. He tells his disciples again that to be the greatest you must be the least, to be first, you must be last, and that even the heart of a child is worthy of his time. He spent much of his time preaching on this one subject…servant leadership.

Application: Life is all about priorities. We can’t do everything so we must decide what is most important. Jesus was teaching that the best thing was to love and God and love others. In order to love God, He is asking that we show our love by serving others. It is a link that can’t be broken. I’ve actually heart people say that they are too busy to serve. WHAT!?! Serving others is exactly what Jesus was all about. He only had 3 years on this earth, and he spent it serving others. He was a busy man yet his priorities were simple. Spend time with God first, spend time serving others.

What are your priorities in life?

Prayer: God, rock my way of thinking! Let me never forget that living the life God has asked me to live means his priorities in life are given by God. Keep this on my heart every second of the day!

Servant Leadership 101

Mark 9:33-37 says, “They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Observation: The disciples were arguing over who was greater….not greater between God and Jesus, but between themselves. It’s the same argument that every sibling has made. “Who does mom love more?” They were ranking themselves. This could have been brought on because Peter, James, and John were allowed to  101witness Jesus on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. Jesus goes on to tell them that to be great in HIS kingdom, you need to serve others freely. He then illustrates this by taking a child and telling them that those the disciples will freely serve is like a child.

Application: Servant Leadership is a contradiction in terms. Most people would describe a leader is someone who no longer has to serve others, but he/she is to be served by others. Think of a king, he does not serve others but is served. Jesus came to blow up everyone’s understanding of what a leader was. This was best illustrated by Jesus washing his disciple’s feet (John 13). All of the Jews thought that the messiah would be a political figure or king who would lead them. Jesus came to lead by being the very example of what the Old Testament law spoke of. By loving and serving others, He was being the leader that God had always desired for his people.

What kind of leader are you? Every follower of Jesus is a leader. But you will have to make the choice to be a servant leader, because anything else may not live up to the standards set by Jesus. Do you put the needs of others first? Are you willing to wash the feet of your friends, family, and neighbors? These questions are tough to wrestle with because of a 5 letter word: PRIDE. We don’t want to be the least, that’s no fun. But that is what God is calling us to today.

Prayer: God, let me serve those around me. Let me be the least and you be the most!

Raising Up the Next Generation of Leaders

In the book of Numbers 27 we read, “So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.”

Observation: Moses was the most amazing leader only second to Jesus. God used Moses in countless ways. It was time for Moses to begin passing the mantle of leadership to another. God chose Joshua. The process began by Moses giving him “some” of his authority. Joshua would lead Israel into the promise land once Moses died.

Application: Are you a leader? If so, who are you pouring your life into? Every leader should be mentoring another potential leader. You have a lot to give and it would be a shame if all that wisdom and experience was wasted. So Ask God today to bring someone into your life who will be your Joshua.

Prayer: God, I pray for the next generation of leaders, that you bring “Moses'” into their lives.