Character for the Journey

Some people enjoy leading others and we all to some degree, want to inspire those around us; to be a help and encouragement when we can, especially because of our faith in Jesus.  Some desire that people would listen to their thoughts and opinions and this is a great accomplishment, however we don't always want the work it may take to get there, especially if the work we need to do is on ourselves!

We've all heard the saying 'you can't lead others until we can lead ourselves'.  Isn't that the truth, how can anyone trust us, if we can't even handle ourselves!  Are our personal relationships with others reflecting good leadership?  We have to take ownership of our own thoughts, feelings and emotions. This isn't easy to do, especially when we may feel a certain way about a decision we don't agree with, a demand or delay!  If we are in charge of others, we need to be able to treat them with respect and honour even though difficult situations may surface that could jeopardise the relationship; will our character be in tact to handle it calmly and wisely?   

Great leadership takes great character, and without the character underneath to take the weight of all that's required of us, not just in our skills but in our personal nature, things can start to crumble.  Our temperament may wane thin during pressure and adversity. How do we handle anger, upset and rejection?  How do we keep leading our lives well when things challenge us on a personal level?  

First of all, life is not immune from troubles, and there are often winters to go through, but as with all seasons, summer is not far around the corner.  Life has it's adversities, but it's how we handle them that really matters. When a difficultly arises, it's always best to pray for wisdom before jumping into something you may regret.  God can help calm our emotions and help us make the right choices (godly choices for us). God is interested in our character rather than our positions, titles or callings.  Character is what determines our altitude. Want to fly? Then what's your character like?  

The Lord is interested in who we are becoming more than any title or success. Are we becoming more like Jesus and developing the fruits of the spirit in our lives; love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Can we restrain ourselves when everything in us is saying do it, even if it's not what God would want.  Are we honest, kind and good hearted in word and deed?  Do we have integrity when no-one is watching and are we trustworthy?  

We can take our lead from Jesus himself.  Many people followed Jesus and he lived his life helping, mentoring and honouring people.  If Jesus did this then we are to do the same.  If we want to be a good leader, we only need to look to Jesus to see all that we need to live our lives well and to full capacity.  

May our character grow where we can be our best selves in everything we do and say. Surely this is the biggest success in our lives; not money, power or positions. May be we aren't where we want to be yet and certainly I need to work on a lot of this too. God will keep testing our character so we can become more like him.  Will we be faithful to God when the pressure hits?  Can God trust us to lead ourselves and others in everything we do? 

Prayer:

Lord, please help me to develop godly character that reflects all you are. May I lead myself well in all my relationships, character and deeds.  Help me to make the right decisions, ones that please you, even when it's difficult. Help my emotions to stay calm when things get overwhelming and give me peace and guidance in every situation. Thank you Jesus you are the greatest leader that ever lived.  Help me to follow you everyday. Amen 

Matthew 20:26  Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. 

Favour Comes from Humility

I do wonder if the world has forgotten about the word 'humility'?  Do people see this as an attribute or a weakness?  Are we really humble, or are we just portraying ourselves as humble?  

Being humble means we must have an accurate view of ourselves, free from ego or arrogance, as well as recognising our own faults and limitations, a willingness to learn from others and to focus on others needs rather than just our own. 

C S Lewis puts it like this ' humility is not thinking less of yourself, but as thinking of yourself less often.  

I think we can learn a lot from the story of Ruth when we look deeper into humility. Naomi had become a widow and wanted to return to Bethlehem from Moab.  She tried to persuade her daughters to stay and not to go with her, but Ruth refused to leave her alone.  She decided not to just think of herself but put the needs of her family above her own. 

Ruth 1 16-17

"Where you go I will go and where you stay, I will stay.  Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. 

Ruth promised to stay with Naomi and go with her wherever she went and only death could part them.  Ruth showed unwavering love and kindness for Naomi. She was very faithful and trusted God's higher plan despite the difficulties and sacrifices. Ruth humbly decided to help Naomi by working as a lowly servant in a field. It was hard work in the dust and heat, and she didn't know what the future might hold for her but she trusted God with her life and the outcomes. 

Unbeknown to Ruth, her master Boaz, started to notice Ruth,  He recognised her hard work, loyalty and commitment to helping her family and in doing so gained great respect from him. Her humble demeaner meant Boaz granted her favour and gave her extra grain to take home. 

Boaz also noticed Ruth's noble character shining through everything she did. Ruth also showed Boaz much respect and honour for providing work and food for her family. All of these attributes made Ruth stand out.  She was humble but with a strong, loyal character. Because of Ruth's faithfulness and kindness, Boaz gradually fell in love with Ruth and they got married. Eventually, they had a son called Obed. Obed was the grandfather of King David and many years later Jesus came from the same family tree. 

Isn't it amazing how helping someone so kindly and humbly, could lead to such an amazing outcome!  What a high position for Ruth now to be in.....in the family line of Jesus!

When we do things for others humbly, you can be sure that God notices and will reward you.  The biggest and most successful things we do in life may not shout the loudest.  Sometimes it's the small things we do faithfully that really count. Will we humbly help others, even when there appears to be nothing in it for ourselves?

Let God's divine favour flow in you today through the power of humility!

A Labour of Love

Have you ever been in love?  You will do anything to help make that person happy.  You just love to see them smiling.  Doing things for them makes you so happy that you almost glow. 

Can you imagine feeling that way everyday of your life; feeling so happy about the work you are doing and the help you are giving people around you, that you glow from within?

When we love God, we can have this life; we can fully live with purpose and enjoy what we do. Col 3, 23-24, 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 Jesus Christ you are serving so all that we do can be a labour of love. We need not just go through the motions as a lot of people do.  They work, they toil, they strive, but what if there was more to our lives than this?  It says in the bible that God wants to send labourers into the harvest field and he's calling you to be one of them. 

Matt 9, 36-38, When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were like a sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest". 

Many people have not heard about Jesus or ever read the bible, so who will help them understand? Many do not realise Jesus can heal their broken hearts; who will share with them that Jesus can heal and restore them?  Many don't know how much Jesus loves them despite their wrongs and hurts; who will encourage them?  It says in Matt 9 v 36, Jesus was moved with compassion for people.  He could see how much need people had, and the vast work needed doing in helping them. He realised that many more workers were needed and the same is true even today not just in bible times! 

God is asking us to help him reach the people and tell them about him, but also to care for them and show them compassion. God is asking us to align with his purpose in all things, so our lives can reach their full potential. He wants our work to be fruitful in all things; our giving, our gifts, our motives, our thoughts, our speaking and our actions. God is asking us to step forward and say, "Yes Lord, may my life be a labour of love for the world and to those around me.  "Send me Lord, I will go for you". When we truly love Jesus, when we help in this way, we are living to our full potential, we are glowing from within and will carry a labour to love to the world through everything that we have and are.  

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I understand that there are a lot of people needing help, compassion, love and encouragement today.  Lord I pray you will use my life this week to be your hands and feet and tell people of your love.  Help me to be a guiding light to others so they can find you, and give practical help when I can.  May all my work be a labour of love for your glory and may all I do be fruitful.  Amen. x 

Washing each other's feet!

 John 13 - 14.15

"And since I, your Lord, and teacher have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet.  I have given you an example to follow.  Do as I have done to you". 

If someone asked you to wash their feet today, I'm sure you would turn up your nose - what a horrible thing to do; washing someone's smelly feet!  However, feet washing in the bible was a common custom due to people's feet being dusty and dirty from the rough terrain.  They would often walk miles on dusty roads only wearing sandals so when they entered someone's home it would be customary for them to wash their feet. It was an act of hospitality and humility. 

Feet washing was usually carried out by the lowest ranking person in the household. Jewish servants were often not permitted to wash feet and was left to gentile servants instead.  Jewish servants generally held a higher religious, legal and social standing in Jewish society and was considered a brother rather than a slave. Gentile servants were often seen as slaves and held lower status in the community.  

Before the Passover meal, Jesus lovingly washed his disciples feet as they entered for the meal. Peter was astonished and appalled, so much so he said to Jesus, in John 13 v 8, "No Jesus, you will never wash my feet".  Jesus answered and said, "Unless I wash your feet you have no part of me". Bearing in mind as well feet washing was usually reserved for the lowest ranking slaves, unlike Jesus who was Jewish and claimed to be the Son of God - the most highest ranking person who was to ever live! 

In Peter's position, I probably would have answered in the same way.  What was Jesus meaning here, as his answer sounded a little bit harsh?  Jesus wasn't being mean to Peter, but using the feet washing as a picture of what he was about to do on the cross, as by doing so, Jesus can make all of us clean and washed from our sin.  It was understandable why Peter didn't yet understand what Jesus was meaning. Jesus says in verse 7, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand".  Jesus was meaning, that when he goes to the cross his life would be a sacrifice for many to wash away the sins of the whole world. 

Not only was Jesus teaching servant leadership but also how to love one another.  The disciples realised this act of washing their feet was the ultimate proof of Jesus' love for them.  In their mind, it was the highest thing Jesus could do, not realising what was to come, that Jesus wasn't going to just wash their feet as a servant, but would be willing to die for them on the cross. At this point, they had no idea of the extent of Jesus' love for them and that it would go far beyond him just washing their feet, that he would experience the horror of the cross and pour out his love for the whole of the human race throughout eternity. 

And that's true for us too, Jesus loved us so much that he didn't just teach us and leave his messages of hope in the bible for us to live by, it went far beyond just that, by him dying for us to wash us clean from our wrong doing and to defeat death, in order for us to one day also defeat death and go to heaven to be with him.  

Jesus was showing his love and humility for all mankind, he wanted to demonstrate to his disciples, that this kind of love and servant leadership was for everyone to participate in.  It doesn't matter our background or status, but we can all love one another and serve one another in humility. We should never think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  Jesus, the king of all kings was washing feet, so what can we then do to help those around us? Wow, what an example to live by. 

Prayer:  Thank you Jesus, that you went to the cross to wash me clean of my sins.  Thank you I am now able to be forgiven and experience heaven.  Thank you for your example of washing feet and may you help in me in my own life to be a servant to many, and help those around me.  Bring opportunities along where I am able to show people your love in a greater way.  Amen 

An Inside Job

Have you ever bit into an apple, it looked lovely on the outside but on the inside it was bad.  All you could see inside was something brown and bruised. 

This can be like our lives, we like to show on the outside how good we are and how great things are going, but inside we can be struggling, we can be bruised and have broken circumstances to deal with.  Sometimes we carry our pain alone.  We feel like no-one would ever understand and, if we were to share our struggles, we would only be judged.  

There is good news, as God completely understands our pain and can lift every burden and bruise from our lives.  He wants to heal your bruises and make you whole and healthy again. Just like the apple; when we eat a healthy fresh apple, it can give us the nutrients we need for sustenance.  And even better than this, as you gain your strength back from God, your life can then help to heal others as well.

Sometimes the burdens inside can unfortunately be our own doing. It can be things we've done or said that we regret and have hurt others, it can be unforgiveness or disagreements.  Our outward appearance may seem to others unscathed, but we carry the burden of knowing our true selves and God sees it, but also loves us all the same! 

The pharisees looked right on the outside; they prayed, they tithed, they worshipped, they preached, they helped the needy, but Jesus could see right through all their pomp and ceremony!  Jesus could see the impurity inside of them and the judgemental attitudes towards others.  They looked humble on the outside but secretly they thought of themselves more holy and religious than everyone else.  That's why just being religious doesn't work, there needs to be more to our faith than a set of rules and regulations to follow. 

Matt 23, 12, Jesus said, whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted higher! 

God doesn't want to see a performance that is untrue, but a transformed heart from within. All the good in our lives starts from within us, the parts that no-one else can see but God. God goes on to say that when we come to him, he wants us to come just as we are, not see a performance as a perfect person, but come to him authentically and humbly.  We shouldn't come to God and pretend we've got everything sorted out in our lives - God certainly knows everything about us, so there is no point in pretending.  

John 4 23-24, It's who you are and the way you live that count before God.  Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth.  That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for, those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.  God is sheer being itself - Spirit.  Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits their true selves in adoration. 

A life that appears perfect and holy can still be empty within, unless God steps in to transform our hearts.  Jesus always spoke from what he saw within a person, not from their outward veneer, skills or performance.  God sees straight into our hearts, hears our intentions and knows our every desire. 

We need to ask the question, what are we carrying within us today?  Whether pain, bruises or sin, God wants to heal you and set you free.  He wants a personal relationship with you that can flourish, so you can live the best and most successful life possible.  

All we need is humility to say, "yes God, I got this wrong, I need your help here, please help me and forgive me because I want to change for the better".  If you pray that prayer, the power that will come into your life will not be matched with anything you've ever experienced before because God can transform a humble heart from the inside out! Only the power of God, that is more powerful than anything in this world could ever do that for you!  Whether you are hurting or bruised let God in today to transform you inwardly. 

Loving but still rejected by many?

Jesus was so loving to people around him and he also wanted the best for people and helped them.  He also held great wisdom which some bible scholars of the time felt intimidated by.  Who is this person trying to teach us of all people?  I don't think they were too impressed with Jesus' confidence and call to teach them and saw Jesus as a big threat to their egos and self importance!

Jesus was often misunderstood and rejected by many despite him tyring to help people. Have you ever felt like Jesus?  To still love people who reject us is not easy but Jesus still did it on the cross.  When Jesus was dying he shouted 'Father forgive them for they do not know what they do' - Luke 23 v24.  Jesus forgave even his killers - wow what kind of love is this?  Certainly this is divine love that cannot be equalled with earthly love.  Earthy love leans towards loving those that only love us back.  God's love should give us a picture of what we can strive to do; to love unconditionally.  May be we can ask God for wisdom as to why people may turn to hate and this may bring clarity to situations, where we are then able to bring some thought, love and opportunity to bring heaven into a situation. 

Empathy and Compassion

Jesus emphasised the importance of empathy and compassion for those who misunderstand us and reject us.  Have you ever been rejected?  It's probably one of the most hurtful things you can feel however God wants us to still love through our rejection and pain. Through it we can learn to lean into God who will never let us down and let that be our stability and confidence. If we don't we may become depressed or bitter about situations that can only lead to self harm in the end.  

Seeking Understanding

God understands you, even if others don't.  We can feel secure in knowing that God created you and understands you completely.  We can use misunderstandings by others as a learning experience.  What can I learn about God through this negative experience?  Do I need to learn to forgive others?

Inner Growth

Rather than focussing on external validation from others, it's important to focus on our relationship with God and our own personal growth in character and wisdom.  Knowing God loves us and has created us as we are, we can stand secure and use our lives to help others rather than create further barriers of hate and discord. Rom 12 v 18 - For as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  God is saying it depends on us very much if we will forgive or not. We can't change the other person but as long as we are helping ourselves then that's all God asks of us. 

Mark 12 v 10-11 - The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone (which can also be found in Psalm 118 22-23).

If Jesus was rejected by many, then he was using this to show us that we may also be rejected in life, it's inevitable at some point. How will we respond?  What will our character show when times are difficult and friends are scare?  How can we ensure we survive rejection; by knowing the one who loves us more deeply than anyone else and that's God.  We can feel completely secure in that 'All things will work together for those that love God'. Rom 8 v 28.  'God is my refuge and strength a very present help in trouble'. Psalm 46 v 1. 

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a divine person and is the third person in the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

John 14, 16 says, I will ask the father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever.  John 15, 26-27 says, The helper is the spirit of truth.  When he comes he will tell about me too because you have been with me from the beginning. 

When Jesus was baptised the Holy Spirit descends onto him as a dove and means we can also receive the Holy Spirit and follow Jesus' example after baptism. The Holy Spirit will start to produce changes in us like giving us more of the fruits of the spirit such as, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. If you are new to faith you may have already noticed that you are changing for the better. 

Gal, 5 v 16 - So I say walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict with each other so you are not to do whatever you want. But you are led by the Spirit not under the law. v 25, Since we are led by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Through the Spirit of God we are gradually changing to be more like God. Wow isn't that amazing!  We can receive the Holy Spirit through asking for it in prayer and reading God's word and building a personal relationship with Jesus through faith.  We may receive the Holy Spirit in many different ways and there are 9 gifts of the spirit, these being, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy, discernment, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. 

Some people may receive some of these gifts but not necessarily all. I've seen a lot of people get hung up on receiving gifts, however I believe we should focus on working on the fruit of the spirit first then see what God will do. The purpose of all these gifts are to reveal truth about God's Kingdom either for individuals or a collective and they are not to be abused for own personal gain or power.  

Don't feel discouraged when you don't see your gifts shining through. The gifts are not necessarily loud and obvious. The gifts sometimes are given without us realising it and one day you may be chatting to someone and a word of wisdom may come out of your mouth exactly at the time the person needed to hear it, you may begin to understand the bible a lot more than you used to and a verse or passage may suddenly become illuminated to you (knowledge), you may pray for someone and they become well again, you may understand a situation before anyone else (discernment).  You may feel a strong sense you have a word from God for someone through divine intervention (prophesy), you may begin to develop a prayer language (tongues) and you may gain understanding as to what that language was meaning (interpretation of tongues). 

We are told that it is difficult for persons not of faith to understand the Holy Spirit because these gifts are not operated necessarily by knowledge, rationale or intellect but come from our spiritual minds and hearts which are opened through the decision of faith in Jesus Christ. So to receive these gifts, do not rely on your own strength and abilities (as we usually do in the world), it will only happen through God working through you by the Spirit.  God's spirit is often gentle and quiet like a dove.  When we live right it allows the dove to settle over us, when we are in sin the dove may fly away (just something for all of us to ponder on). 

1 Cor 2, 14 - The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 

How does the Holy Spirit speak to us?  You may sense God speaking to you through quiet conviction.  We may feel led to go a certain way or to make a decision about something.  We may also receive peace about a decision we have made.  God often leads us gently without us realising it and we have to trust God even if we don't know all the answers and the reasons why.  I know personally I've had to do this many times in my own life.  I don't always know the way forward but I know someone who does and that's God.  He will never let us down when we fully commit our lives to him.