Day 47: 2 Peter 1:3

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence…”



Are you looking for something new from God? So many of us spend so much time running through life looking to God for something new when we already have this promise.


We already have everything we need to live life and be godly. When you think about it, that’s pretty deep. God has given us, through his “divine power,” everything we need to live in a godly manner.


When did He do that? What are these things? What does this even mean?


First, as a believer, you have the Holy Spirit. That alone is enough to live in a godly manner. We have God within us. That’s amazing. Second, He has given us His word, which instructs us in God’s ways and His paths. Thirdly, He’s given us the church, of which we are a part, to give us community where we can help and be helped in turn. Last, but definitely not least, He has given us salvation. In this there is truly life.


This is all we need to live and to be godly. Really.


Usually, our issue with looking for something new from God is a matter of contentment or pride. We don’t think what we’ve been given is glamorous enough, or exciting enough. We aren’t content, or worse, we aren’t grateful for what we do have.


Take a look at the second part of this verse. These things that God has given us are for His glory and excellence. That means a lot to me. God’s not giving us these things for us, but rather for Him to be glorified in the world and amongst His creation.


Remember, the next time you go looking for something new from God, He’s already given us everything we need for life and godliness.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: God has given us everything that we need, and He has given it to us for His glory and excellence.


Here are some verses to meditate on today: Ephesians 2:1-10


Prayer: Father, help me to be content with what You have given me. Help me to remember you’ve given me everything I need. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 46: Philippians 1:9-11

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”



We don’t think much about the word “love,” probably because we use it in so many ways. You love cheeseburgers, you love this movie, you love (fill in the blank). We’ve kind of lost the meaning of love in all the usage of it. At the very least, we have perverted it’s meaning and lost the real power behind the term.


Look closely at this passage from Philippians and see the power behind God’s love: through love, when coupled with knowledge and discernment, you can see what is excellent, and bear fruit for the kingdom of God. Now that’s a powerful love.


So what does one have to do with the other? What does love have to do with approving what is excellent? Our answer is best illustrated by the opposite of love: selfishness.


When we are selfish, we approve of the things that benefit us. We don’t bear fruit for the Kingdom of God when we are concerned with ourselves, nor can we be pure and blameless when we are thinking only of ourselves.


Love, the kind of love that we learn from Christ’s love for us, is so powerful that it overcomes our selfishness. True love puts self last, and thinks of everyone else first. With that attitude, it’s easy to see what’s right, instead of easy; beneficial to others, rather than beneficial to us; and what advances God’s kingdom, rather than our kingdom.


Love has this power, and it’s a tremendous power. It’s a world-changing power. It’s a power that only comes from God.


By this power we can see what is best, and take the right path that God has laid in front of us.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader loves supremely. They love God and others in such a way that self is lost, and they can see what God approves and the path they should take.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Acts 26


Prayer: Father, consume me with Your love. Rid me of myself, and replace me with You. Amen.

Day 45: Acts 4:19-20

“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”



There are a lot of people who talk. Talk is cheap. There will be many people who will tell you things that are contrary to God. Get used to it; you live in the world. Unfortunately, there will also be many times when you will be asked to do something that is contrary to your belief. Worse, when this happens, there are usually bad consequences for you if you do the godly thing.


It is easier to do things the way of the world. It is more accepted, the rewards of the world are plentiful, and no one will usually think the worse of you.


God does not call us into the easy way. He calls us into His way. His way is not the world’s way, and often the two clash.


When Peter and John were ordered by the Jewish ruling counsel to stop talking about Jesus, they had a choice to make. This was the same council that had crucified Jesus. They were more than capable of killing Peter and John.


Peter and John, rather than carrying on their obedience to God in secret, let the Sanhedrin know right away what kind of behavior they could expect.


Many times you are going to be in a tight spot where there is a clear choice between God and the world. It is in these times that the world is watching you the closest. They are waiting to see what you decide, because they will deduce how much you truly believe God by your decision.


In these tough times, we have to take our stand and declare our allegiance. It is to none but God. Any other allegiance fails us; any other path leads us astray.


Tough times will come, and you will be forced to choose. Will you choose to speak of what you have “see n and heard?”


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Christian Leaders take their stand on Christ. When faced with obeying the world or following Christ, they follow Christ.


Here are some verses to meditate on Today: Luke 22:39-46


Prayer: Father, help me to choose Your way at all times. Help me to resist the temptation to take the easy way out. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 44: James 1:6

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”



Do you believe that God wants to give you good things? Do you believe the Bible when it says that God will answer prayers? Then why do we doubt?


Doubt is born of unbelief. It is a sure sign that there is still unbelief in us.


Remember the man who brought his son before Jesus for healing. Remember the man’s plea: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”


James is specifically referring here to asking for wisdom in prayer. He says that you should ask in complete confidence that it will be given to you. When we ask for things that are in God’s will, He will be faithful in giving them to us.


And always remember, God always answers our prayers. We may not get the answer we like, but there is always an answer. “No” is an answer. So is “not now.” We may not want those answers, but we often get them. When God seems silent to your prayer, have faith; He has answered.


James goes on to say that anyone who asks in doubt will not be answered. Why is this? Because God deals with us when we treat Him for who He is: God. The Creator of the universe. Doubting Him or His answer shows how much faith we have in Him. He answers the faithful.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: When we pray, we should do so with complete faith. Pray knowing that God will answer.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on Today: Matthew 7:7-11


Prayer: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Increase my faith, Lord. In Christ’s name, amen

Day 43: 1 Corinthians 3:18

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”



In Paul’s day, the big thing was wisdom. The Greeks had elevated philosophy above everything else. Their sophists were regarded as the smartest teachers around, and all who sat at their feet were considered to be wise. This wisdom conflicted greatly with the wisdom of God. As we know, God has ordered the universe and His kingdom to fly in the face of the world’s wisdom.


In this environment, these two very different kinds of wisdom were clashing. The Greeks, considering themselves wise, could not see the wisdom of God.


Paul says here that those who consider themselves wise in the world won’t be able to get the wisdom of God, so the worldy wise need to become what they would consider a fool, so that God may give them wisdom.


We are no different today than the Greeks in Paul’s day. We believe that we are the best educated, most ethically and morally advanced people in the world. We believe that we are at the pinnacle of civilization. And still, just as back then, God is calling us to be considered fools by the world’s standards so that God may give us His wisdom.


So many times we let things like science, logic, ethics, and religion get in the way of the wisdom of God. Because it is more accepted to do so, we try to reconcile the two (many people did that in Paul’s day, as well). The result is predictable, and sad. We miss the mark. Sometimes we miss the mark so far that we miss salvation.


The wisdom of God is not found in the world, it’s teachers, it’s schools, or it’s media. The wisdom of God is found in the gospel, and in the Bible. Learning this wisdom may make you seem like a fool to many, but in God and His people, you have found family.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom are not the same thing. In order to follow God’s wisdom, we will have to look like fools to the rest of the world.


Here is a set of Verses to meditate on today: Acts 27


Prayer: Father, help me to discern what is the world’s wisdom and what is yours. I denounce the wisdom of the world, no matter the consequences. I want your wisdom. Thank you for being faithful and giving it to me. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 42: James 1:5

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him”



We all lack wisdom; every one of us. There are a lot of things that we don’t understand, let alone know how to use in our daily life.


This isn’t a bad thing, it’s just the truth. So many of us, especially in leadership, think that we have to have all of the answers. We think that if we don’t, we have somehow failed ourselves, our education, and those people we serve. Nothing could be further from the truth.


Here’s the deal: God wants to give us wisdom. He spends a lot of time throughout the Bible talking about wisdom. It’s clear that with God it’s not enough just to know something, but to apply what you know in your life. Paul says as much in Romans 6.


James gives those of us who walk with Christ good news. James says “if you don’t have it, ask for it.” That’s pretty amazing, if you think about it. God wants to give us wisdom so much, that he’s just waiting for us to ask.


In fact, James says that God not only gives wisdom, but He gives it generously. That means God gives it. A lot of it. And he does so without belittling you for not having enough wisdom already. That’s cool.


He’s not like those people in your life who, when you ask for something, wonder out loud why you don’t already have it, or haven’t already sought it. God isn’t like that. He wants you to ask for wisdom, and when you do, He gives it in abundance.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: We do lack wisdom, so we should ask God for it.


Here’s a set of Verses to meditate on today: 1 Kings 3


Prayer: Father, thank you that I can come to you for things I don’t have. Please give me wisdom that I might walk in Your ways and lead Your people in righteousness and justice. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 41: Colossians 1:9b

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”



Many of us go through life wanting to know God’s will for us. I have known people who will read books, go to conferences, and join groups in the hope that somehow God will speak some new revelation to them.


Maybe you are that person today. Maybe you are just completely tied up trying to figure out what God wants for you. If you are, then I have good news.


In this verse, Paul is telling the Colossians that he is praying for them constantly that they would have knowledge of God’s will. Then, with uncanny precision, Paul lays out what part of God’s will for them he wants for them: spiritual wisdom and understanding.


Here’s the good news for those of you who are searching for God’s will: God isn’t a God of secrets. He wants you to know His will for you. In fact, He wrote it down for you. That’s right. His word, the Bible, is a detailed plan of His will for you. Now, God may get even more detailed with you, and in that case, I promise you that He will let you know. He is not playing games with you, or keeping things from you. This is the God that set a bush on fire and then spoke out of it to get Moses attention. He can do the same thing for you.


Now, let’s get to this particular bit of God’s will for your life: God wants us to have spiritual wisdom and understanding. Remember way back when we started this devotion what we decided wisdom was: knowledge plus application. God is giving us both sides of this equation right here. This is what Paul is saying. He is praying that the Colossians are given spiritual understanding and wisdom. Remember that they have to have spiritual understanding before they can have wisdom. Paul is praying that God would give the Colossians knowledge plus application.


God wants you to have the same thing. Part of God’s will for your life is that you would understand spiritual things, and then apply them to your life. How do you do that? Read the Bible, and then go and do it.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: The Christian leader knows God’s word and applies it to their life. They understand that God’s Will is found in the Bible, not hidden from anybody.


Here’s a set of verses for you to meditate on today: Exodus Chapter 3 and 4


Prayer: Father, make me content to know Your word and apply it to my life. Give me spiritual knowledge and wisdom to live my life according to Your ways. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 40: Acts 18:9-11

“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”



Paul never seemed to get much time in any city. The cross of Christ was so revolutionary, so scandalous that the gospel stirred up trouble wherever Paul went. Paul was kicked out of more towns than we’ll ever know, being beaten, stoned, and generally treated badly as he went.


It’s no wonder then, that he was probably afraid for his life once again as he was in Corinth. There were many that opposed him and the teaching of Christ. A funny thing happened then. It just wasn’t in God’s plan for Paul to be run out of town like he had been before. God appears to Paul in a dream and tells him to stay put. God also tells Paul not to be afraid, and that no one will harm him. You can see the result: Corinth, being the heart of Greece, became a base for the gospel for a year and a half.


There will be many times in your walk with God that you are afraid. He may call you to things that you don’t even think are possible to do, or seem to take so much time and work that it seems impossible to complete. There will be times in your walk with God that you feel like you can’t go on, and there will be times in you walk when it seems like God isn’t there, almost as if you are all alone.


In these times, we have to remember that God is with us, and no matter what, he will complete what He has called us to do. Remember that it’s not incumbent upon us to get anything done: God does it. Remember that it’s not for us to save anyone: God alone saves.


If God is in something, it will get done to His satisfaction, regardless. If God is for you, no one can stand against you. If God is protecting you, there is no harm that can fall on you. He’s the God of the universe. All power is His. He can do that.


Sometimes when faced with problems and perils, we forget who God is and what He has called us to do. We should take God’s advice: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” There’s no one else I would want on my side.


As a Christian leader, there are many times God calls us to things that are scary or seem impossible to do. There are many times when even our very life will be threatened by those around us.


Remember, His plans are from before creation. What He has ordained will be accomplished; and God will use you to do it. You are invincible until your work here is done.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: When God is in something, there is nothing that can stop it’s accomplishment. No matter the task in front of us, if God has called us to it, God will see us through it.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Isaiah 6


Prayer: Father, give me courage, reminding me that You are always with me. Let me always remember that if You’ve called me than You will complete my calling. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 39: 1 Peter 1:13

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”



I know this is going to be harder for some more than others but here goes.


What is the end-game of our faith? Jesus. In heaven. Right?


Peter is reminding us that we need to keep that end-game in mind as we set about our daily lives. He reminds us that it’s not just about us. We may be saved, but how about your neighbor? How about your family? How about your friends?


Being a Christian isn’t always easy. It’s not always fun and games. Sometimes it’s serious life-and-death stuff.


Because of this, Peter tells us to prepare our minds for action. What does that mean, exactly? It means that at all times, we should be ready to share the gospel, or help someone who needs it, or serve God in whatever way He is telling us to do so. It’s hard to do that when we are goofing our way through life, not being serious about anything.


It can be easy, once we are saved, to relax, knowing that we are okay. Jesus never meant for it to be that way, but it’s one of Satan’s best tools. If the devil can’t keep us out of the kingdom, he’ll make us as ineffective as possible. Don’t let that happen. Prepare your mind for action.


Peter says that by doing so, we’ll have an easier time setting our hope on the final grace that awaits us. Remember, grace is getting something that we don’t deserve; in this case, eternal life, and a declaration of “not-guilty” from the judge of judges, God almighty.


Think about it this way: if we are concerned with the eternal and worldly state of the people around us, it helps us focus better on God and eternity. If we focus on things that don’t matter (screwing around with the things of this world) than we have a hard time focusing on God and what awaits us.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: The Christian Leader thinks seriously on matters of faith and sharing that faith with those around them, knowing that it helps them focus on the grace that Jesus gives us.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Matthew 6:19-24


Prayer: Father, help me to be more serious and focused on things that are eternal. I pray that you ready my mind for action, showing me the need of people around me. Help me to stay focused on your kingdom by staying focused on your love for those around me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.

Day 38: 2 Thessalonians 3:1

“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you”



What do you pray for? If you’re like most people, you probably pray for your family, for those that you know are sick, your friends, and yourself.


There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, each of these facets of prayer are very biblical, but I want to challenge you today to expand your prayer life.


Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, asks for prayer from them (as he did every other church that he wrote to). He asks a very specific prayer that I think deserves a little more attention. He asks the Thessalonians to pray that the Word of God (the gospel) move in power even ahead of Paul and his evangelistic campaign.


This is interesting, because he ends with “as happened among you.” Obviously, the word of God was moving in power among the Thessalonians (probably from someone who had brought it back with them from a trip), even before Paul got there.


Think about that for a minute. What’s Paul really asking? He’s asking that the Thessalonians pray that God’s word is spread quickly and powerfully across the entire earth, moving in power and with fruitfulness.


Do you ever pray for this? Do you pray for all those nameless missionaries that are right now sharing the faith with those who are lost? Do you pray for all those that will share their faith tomorrow at work, or at school?


We should. In fact, imagine the power behind that prayer as millions of Christians around the world pray for those who will be sharing their faith with the lost, and for the lost who will hear it. What a powerful thought.


When you pray today, remember the gospel, and pray for those who will be sharing and hearing it.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader prays for the gospel as it goes out throughout the earth, and for those who share and hear it.


Here’s a set of verse to meditate on today: Matthew 9:35-38


Prayer: Father, help me to remember all of your servants as they share your word today. Help me to be one of those servants. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 37: Ephesians 1:18a

“having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,”



It is essentially important that we understand what happens when we experience salvation. Paul calls this “the hope to which He has called you”. The immediate effects are obvious and well laid out in scripture. We are forgiven of our sins, we are made righteous, we have a home in heaven for eternity, and we escape God’s wrath.


What effect does this have on our daily life, and more importantly to us, what effect does it have on the life of a leader?


First, and foremost, In Romans 6 Paul says that God’s justification leads to a changed life. Our belief will lead to a different way of life; honoring and pleasing to Jesus. Secondly, we come to realize the nature of the world: everything here is temporary. We live for eternity. We are to pursue those things that are eternal, rather than toiling and acquiring those things that do not last. Lastly, we no longer have a need for fear or want because we know that God loves us and will provide for us if we’ll only seek His kingdom and His righteousness.


All of these outcomes of salvation are important, and in this verse Paul wants us to know these things. Why? Because they really make a difference in how we live our life. One of the things that will draw people to you (either in an evangelistic way or in a leader-follower relationship) is how well you understand and act on these facts.


Your actions and attitudes declare to the world what you truly believe about God. I know I’ve said that before but I’ll harp on it again. It’s so true and so important. People know when you understand the hope that God has called us into because you act like it’s true. That has serious ramifications for the Christian leader.


One of the jobs of a Christian leader is to help people understand this very thing. If we don’t get it, we can’t share it. If we’re not living it, people might not even give us the chance.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian Leader understands the hope that God has called us into. It permeates their life and changes their behavior at a basic level.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Romans 8


Prayer: Father, help me to understand what You have called me into. Change my life with that knowledge. Help others see you in me. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 36: 1 John 4:9

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him”



Notice a very interesting thing that John is saying about why Jesus came into the world and what it says about God.


John says that Jesus came into the world so that we could live through Him, and that shows the love of God. What does that mean?


First, lets tackle that part about living through Jesus. I believe there are two undertones on “life” here. First, when we believe in Jesus Christ, we have eternal life. This is truly living. We no longer face an eternity separated from our Creator and Redeemer. Through Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death on the cross, we live.


Second, though, is an even more interesting note with implications in this life. Our life in Christ is different. It is more fulfilling, because it’s lived in tune with how God made the world; and there is purpose, because through Christ’s death and resurrection we are now free to serve God. This is living as well. In fact, if you read Colossians 3 you find that your life is “hidden” with Christ; people should no longer see you, but Jesus. When Jesus is revealed, Paul says there in Colossians, then you will be revealed again as well.


What both Paul and John are saying is that as a Christian, our life is now lived through Jesus. We have a new filter that we should put everything we do through: Jesus.


The Christian leader should ask themselves what makes a leader worth following. I would answer that it is this very principle: That they live their lives through Christ, rather than through themselves. We already tried living through ourselves, and it didn’t work so well. We are worth following because we no longer live for ourselves but for Jesus, and He knows how to live life so much better than us.


When people look at us they should be seeing Jesus. Our actions, our speech, and our leadership should just ooze Jesus. That’s what it means to live through Christ. It’s no longer our life, it’s no longer our power, and it’s no longer our way. It’s Jesus.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: The Christian leader lives their life through Christ, rather than themselves. This makes them a leader worth following.


Here are some verses to Meditate on Today: Colossians 3:1-17


Prayer: Father, help me to live my life through Jesus Christ. I belong to Him. I don’t want to do things my own way anymore. Make me a leader worth following. In Christ’s name, amen

Day 35: James 1:2-3

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”



The crap will hit the fan. It’s inevitable. Nobody leads such a charmed life that they never face any troubles. Sadly, some people think that because they are a Christian, they will never have to go through hard times. They believe that because they are obeying God, going to church, tithing, and all that Christian stuff, that God owes them an easy life. Boy, are they wrong.


God didn’t spare His Son, and He didn’t spare any of the prophets, or even the apostles, from some pretty stormy seas, even death in terrible unusual ways. If God didn’t spare them, why would He spare you?


In fact, James tells us to treat troubles differently. He says “find joy in trials.” Now, that’s easier said than done. Why would we take joy in trials?


First of all, lets come at this from a biblical viewpoint. At the time that James wrote this to his congregations, they had faced and were facing massive persecution at the hands of Judaism. The dispersion of Christ-followers that followed the martyrdom of Stephen led people into strange new areas, new cities, and new jobs. This created all sorts of problems as unemployed Christians came racing into new towns to escape persecution. Unfortunately, persecution followed or started up afresh in these new towns.


James is telling his congregants to take heart in their troubles because it is teaching them something: perseverance. Our human nature is to give up at the first sign of trouble. We don’t like trouble, we don’t like to be in trouble. We would rather crawl under a rock and hide. James says that this trouble is teaching you how to stand under fire while God sees you through it.


As we look at this from our perspective, we see some similarities. As we take a stand for our faith in this world, or strive to work for Christ in this world, we are going to face troubles. Sometimes they come from outside sources, and sometimes they come from our friends and families. The overriding factor here is that we are to find joy in these circumstances because we are being taught and trained how to stand in the face of the enemy and not waver. And it isn’t just anyone teaching the lesson, it’s God.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: When we find ourselves in a rough spot, in trouble because of our faith, or under fire while working for God, take heart; God is using these circumstances to strengthen you and help you to stand.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Philippians 4:10-13


Prayer: Father, help me to stand in the face of opposition. Give me courage, and teach me to persevere. Give me joy in the face of my enemies. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 34: Romans 6:11

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”



Sin is a funny thing. If you give it an inch, it will take a mile. When you crack the door open to sin, then expect it to be kicked off the hinges.


Sometimes sin does it slow, creeping in without you really paying attention to it, and at other times sin will wage a shock and awe campaign, overwhelming you with its relentless attacks and incessant temptation.


Whatever the case may be, we let it. There’s no getting around that fact. We choose to sin; we choose to spit in the face of our great God, telling Him that our way is better than His.


In Romans 6, Paul is dealing with a particularly nasty group of people that believe that because they are saved from God’s wraith through Jesus Christ, they can go ahead and do anything they want. We call these guys antinomians. All right. I call them antinomians, you can call them wrong.


Paul is urging us to consider ourselves dead to sin (that’s the point of the second birth). We have to remember that when we say we are dead to something, we’re effectively saying that we don’t want anything more to do with it. We’re saying that as far as we’re concerned, it doesn’t even exist to us. That’s what Paul is saying our attitude should be.


Paul is playing on the theological argument that he just made in Romans 5; that through Jesus, God took us out of the kingdom of sin and death and made us alive in His Kingdom. So, if that’s the case, we are dead to sin.


As Christian leaders, we have to be careful. If we are being effective, working for the Kingdom, bearing fruit in our Christian life, then Satan is going to come knocking. Satan doesn’t mind an inactive Christian, because an inactive Christian isn’t a threat to Satan or his kingdom. But an effective Christian, well, he can’t have that.


When the devil comes knocking, consider yourself dead to him. Consider yourself dead to his temptations. Consider yourself dead to sin. You left the devil’s house a while back, and you really don’t want to go hang there anymore.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader will come under temptation and spiritual attack. We must consider ourselves dead to sin, resisting temptation as though we will have nothing more to do with it.


Here’s some verses to meditate on today: Romans 5


Prayer: Father, help me be dead to sin. I don’t want to walk in it anymore. Help me to resist temptation when it comes my way. Keep the devil from me, and help me resist when I am tempted to turn my back on you. I love and serve only you, Lord. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 33: Hebrews 2:17

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”



There is something very important about Jesus in these verses. Well, a couple of things. First, Jesus was just like us, except that He didn’t sin. That’s why He can relate to us, and we can relate to Him. He knows what we are going through, because He went through it. He faced every temptation we face. He faced every heartache that we face. He knew every joy that we know. But Jesus did it all without sin, which makes Him the perfect sacrificial lamb of God.


We can learn a lot from what Jesus did while He was on earth. One of the things that we as leaders need to learn is that we need to be of the people. There are many “leaders” who think that they don’t need to mingle with “the little people” who work for them or follow them. Nothing could be farther from the truth.


To become what Jesus needed to become, He lived with us. In fact, Jesus even lived homeless, relying on the goodness of people to take Him and His disciples in at night, or sleeping under the stars when it was required. The point is, Jesus didn’t insulate himself in some nice mansion and keep Himself apart from the people. He lived with them, among them, as one of them.


As leaders, especially a successful one, our tendency is to drag ourselves away from the people, to see ourselves as better than the people, and to think of them as not worth our time. We have to look to Jesus to be our example and model in how we deal with people. The truth is, we are no different than anybody else, God has just given us a leader’s stewardship for a time.


If we follow Jesus’ example, we become better leaders. Why? Because we can lead, and others follow better, when our lives are intertwined with the lives of those we lead.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Like Jesus, we aren’t to separate ourselves from other people. We aren’t to think of ourselves more highly, or believe that spending time with others is beneath us. We are good leaders because we understand people and share in their lives.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: John 11:28-37


Prayer: Lord, help me be humble and to identify with others around me. Help me be a better leader by being like Your Son Jesus, who lived among and with other people. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 32: Titus 1:7a

“For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.”



Believe it or not, the Bible has a list of expectations when it comes to being a leader. You can find them in Titus, Timothy, and scattered throughout the New Testament.


One of those requirements for leadership is that a person who leads must be above reproach. What does that mean?


Many people think that it means that a leader must be perfect. If that were the case, there would be no leaders. No one is perfect except Jesus. Not even close.


So what does “above reproach” mean? Quite literally, it means, no one can accuse you, or that no one has any need to publicly get into your face about your screw-ups.


Notice what I’m saying. It’s not that you don’t screw up, it’s that you handle your screw-ups in a way that can’t be publicly scrutinized, or would hurt the reputation of Jesus Christ.


Let’s take a look at what that looks like.


First, when we make mistakes, being above reproach means we go public with a confession. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it also means that if you have already publicly confessed your sins, people can’t play “gotcha” with your sin life.


Second, being above reproach means that you deal with your sins in a direct and repentant way. You don’t hide behind excuses and try to justify your actions. You repent, and ask forgiveness from those that you hurt. You publicly proclaim why your actions were sinful and harmful, and ask forgiveness from those around you.


Third, it means being open about your shortcomings. This is very difficult, especially for leaders (who tend towards pride anyways), but essential for being above reproach. When people don’t expect you to be perfect, they won’t be surprised when you’re not. Many leaders think that having an air of invincibility about them is what they need to lead. I would disagree. I believe that an air of vulnerability is much better. It’s more human. And it’s realistic.


Remember that you’re not perfect, and no matter how hard you try, you won’t be this side of heaven. What separates you from other people is how you handle your sin. Are you above reproach, or are you one reveal away from downfall?


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader deals with their sin in a public and humble way. They are above reproach because of the way they deal with sin.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: 2 Samuel 11


Prayer: Lord, help me to deal with my sin in a way that will bring greater glory to You. Help me not to hide it or cover it up. Make me above reproach. In Christ’s Name, amen.

Day 31: Acts 9:15-16

“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”



Imagine being poor Ananias. Maybe you have been in a situation similar to his. God was asking Ananias to go and talk to a guy who before his conversion would have taken one look at Ananias and hauled him off in chains to be executed because of his faith.


Ananias must have been seriously questioning God’s sense at that point. I would have been. It just goes to show that we wouldn’t act differently even when God just comes out and speaks directly to us.


But don’t miss the point. God had everything well in hand. Ananias didn’t know it, or except it, but God was brining a big puzzle together that was a long time in the making. If Ananias had remembered who God was, instead of worrying about his own skin, he may have reacted differently.


We point a finger at Ananias, but we’re probably the same way. Has God ever called you to something that you thought was ridiculous? Has He told you to talk with that really mean or aggressive person at school about Jesus, or maybe called you to work in a place that you would consider dangerous or at the very least unglamorous?


Remember, that even though it might seem crazy, God knows what He is doing. You may be the first in, or you may be the last piece of the puzzle. It’s really not for us to know, but it is for us to obey.


What would have happened if Ananias had blown God off that day? What would have happened to Paul. He’d had met Jesus, yes, but through Ananias Paul’s sight was restored and he was baptized. Incredible.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: God gives us divine appointments that we don’t always understand. Obey. Let God work out the details, no matter how dangerous.


Here’s a set of Verses to meditate on today: Jonah 4


Prayer: Father, help me to obey without worrying about what it will cost me. You gave Your Son to die for me. Thank you for working out everything before You even call me. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 30: Ephesians 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…”



Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough to do anything? Do you feel like there’s nothing you can offer to God?


Sometimes I wonder why God would call me into ministry. Sometimes, when I’m feeling particularly sorry for myself, I wonder if I’m having any impact at all.


You probably know what I’m talking about. One of the worst weapons in the enemies’ arsenal is doubt. Satan can make us feel so small, and leave us wondering if we’re good for anything to God.


When that happens, remember what Paul says here in Ephesians. In a nutshell, what Paul is saying is that we have everything we need to do whatever God has called us to do.


So often we run around reading books, listening to sermons, and going to conferences hoping that God will somehow miraculously equip us to do His work.


Ready for the big secret? He already has.


Through Jesus Christ, we are blessed with everything we need, including heaven itself. If we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing, how is it that we lack anything?


We don’t. We only feel like we do. If God has called you to some work, he hasn’t left you on your own to carry it out. He has equipped you for it, guides you through it, (and here’s the best part) accomplishes it for us.


We can’t get any more blessed than that.


Sometimes we don’t feel equipped, or blessed, or even forgiven; but our salvation, our calling, and God are not about emotion, they are about fact.


The next time Satan’s got you in a headlock feeling sorry for yourself, remember what Paul says: We already have all the blessings we need.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: God has given us everything we need to live for Him and carry out His calling.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Exodus 3


Prayer: Father, thank you for calling me your own. Thank you for calling me into Your service. Help me to remember that I can do all things through you. Help me to resist self-pity. In Christ’s Name I pray, amen.

Day 29: 2 Timothy 1:6-7

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”


Fear often controls our life. Even as Christians, we are often afraid to do what God has given us to do. This is for many reasons: we’re afraid of what people will say about us; we’re afraid of what people will do to us; we’re afraid of failure; sometimes we’re even afraid of where God will take us if we obey Him. Fear can be a paralyzing feeling; so paralyzing, in fact, that we don’t obey God.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s okay to be afraid. But it’s not okay to let that fear control you. The definition of courage is doing what needs to be done even when you’re scared to death.

It is obvious that Timothy was dealing with fear as Paul wrote him in 2 Timothy. To Timothy, it must have seemed that the world was crashing: Paul was in prison, about to be executed; Timothy, wanting to be with his mentor, no doubt, was in Ephesus, trying to guide the churches in one of the largest and most pagan cities in the empire. Fear was natural, but it was obviously starting to take too strong a hold on young Timothy.

Paul gently reminds Timothy of something very important. Christ drives out fear. With Christ there is no fear, because you can’t lose. Like Paul said in Philippians, if you live, you get the continued blessing of service. If you die, you go to heaven to be with Christ. Win-Win.

Timothy had lost sight of this, just like many of us have today. Paul tells Timothy that the time he was spending in fear and worry would be better served honing the gifting that Paul had himself initiated in Timothy. Timothy had obviously lost his fire. When we become afraid, we pay more attention to the fear than to God, and He can’t use us. Our flame begins to die, until we are paralyzed from our fear and barely shining. Paul reminds Timothy, as I am reminding you, to trust in Christ and whip that gift into a roaring bonfire that the whole world can see.

Paul finally reminds Timothy that fear isn’t from God, it’s from Satan. God gives us power, love, and self-control. Fear brings the opposite of these: uselessness, selfishness, or self-preservation, and reaction rather than self-control. In other words, when we’re afraid, we have no power (because of our lack of faith), no love (because you’re trying to preserve yourself, and not others), and finally, no self-control (you do stupid things when fear is controlling your life). Those aren’t the marks of a Christ-Centered life. It’s okay to be afraid. It’s not okay to let that fear take control you. Trust in God. Don’t let the flame go out.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: it’s okay to be afraid, but we can’t let fear control us. When we let fear control us we lose our power, love, and control.

Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Matthew 10:28

Prayer: Father, keep fear far from me. Help me to have such faith in you that I don’t let fear control my life. Help me to deal with my fear in a godly way, and to seek out others to help me deal with it. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.

Day 28: 1 Timothy 1:5

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”



As a leader, you will probably do a lot of teaching, mentoring, and give a lot of advice. If you’re a particularly effective leader, you’ll do this a lot. Many times, a leader will approach the advice they give, the teaching they do, and the mentoring they do without any kind of a plan or reason. Pressed for time or backed into a corner by a desperate co-worker, they shoot from the hip and may end up doing more damage than had been inflicted before.


Why is this? Because when you don’t have a plan or even a goal your advice or teaching is usually what the other person wants to hear. Because of our selfishness, because of our time constraints, and because of our lack of forethought, we will automatically tune our responses to what the other person wants to hear, both to please them and to get them out of our way.


Paul takes a different tack, and he’s teaching Timothy this method. That makes it important to us. Paul was Timothy’s mentor. In fact, Paul was a father figure to Timothy. He taught Timothy about the Bible and how to be a biblical leader. That means that if Paul was teaching this to Timothy, it has particular importance for leaders today.


Paul says that everything that we do should be for the sake of love. Here again is that unconditional love that Jesus modeled for us in His life and death, and that we are supposed to show to others. He goes further and shows the motivation that this love comes from:


1. A pure heart


2. A good conscience


3. A sincere faith


You’ll note that these are all things that God gives us at our conversion. You might also note that love comes from each of these things.


Paul is telling us that everything that we do must be in love. That means that we give up our selfish motivations and really teach, act, give advice, and mentor with an eye of truly helping the other person. We can accomplish these things because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. It still takes some forethought, though. It takes being prepared to answer questions and really helping people. It means setting aside some of your day to deal with pop up issues so you don’t blow them off to save the time.






CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Everything we do must come from love. All advice, teaching, and leading we do must be for the good of the other person, rather than our edification.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Hebrews 12:1-3


Prayer: Father, help me to speak in love, and to truly help those in need, in whatever circumstance they or I are in. Help me to love people so much that everything I do is for their benefit, rather than mine. Thank you, Father, In Christ’s Name I pray, amen.

Day 27: 1 Thessalonians 2:4

“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”



Have you ever found yourself doing something good for the wrong reasons? How does that feel? Do you think it’s right?


Leaders often walk a fine line when it comes to motivation. Many leaders, being aware of how to please people and what it takes to lead them, will do things specifically to cultivate their own leadership. A Christian leader must never be like this.


A Christian leader does the right thing, and pleases God. This, in the end, will earn you as much respect and a larger following than will being a person whose motivation is selfish and egocentric.


Our motivations must be one of the things that separates Christian and secular leaders.


Sooner or later people will begin to question why you do things. No one is immune to this questioning, not even Paul. The Thessalonians, the Corinthians, and the Galatians (that we know of) questioned why Paul did what he did, and Paul was doing it for the right reasons. Paul was able to show these congregations whose interest he had in his heart because he was serving God.


If you are doing the right thing, saying the right thing, being the religious person, preaching the right message etc, merely to gain a following you will be found out. In fact, you already are. Paul makes very clear in this passage that it is God who tests the heart. God knows why you do the things you do, and if your followers don’t they soon will.


You’re not fooling anyone, so why try? It’s one thing to say and do all the right things, and another to mean them. As leaders we have to mean it. God demands that we do, and those we lead will demand it too.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader does the right thing with pure, God-driven motivation. They do not do the right thing merely to be seen as someone who does or because people will follow them if they do. We do the right thing because we love God and want to be like His Son, Jesus


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Proverbs 16:25


Prayer: Father, help me to have the right motivation. Help me to love You more. Help me to love me less. Search my heart, Lord, and show me where my motivation is wrong. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 26: Colossians 1:3-5a

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.”



What are you thankful for?


I know that at thanksgiving dinner you probably sit around a dinner table with your family and list a few things that you’re thankful for. They probably include things that have to do with the people sitting around you, don’t they? “your family, your friends, your house, your food, your significant other.” I know this list. I’ve played this game.


Christians should be thankful people. We have lots to be thankful for. We have all those things I just listed, and then some. Paul picks up a couple of things that he is thankful for that sometimes I think we take for granted and shouldn’t.


Paul is thankful to God for the Colossians because of their faith and love. Paul goes on to say that their love and faith emanates from the hope that those people have in Jesus Christ.


It’s very easy to be thankful for our own things; they’re ours. It’s harder to be thankful for other people based on their stuff. That just seems weird. Paul is thankful for these other people because of what they have and how it benefits them. That’s a completely different view on things, isn’t it?


In essence, Paul is thankful that the Colossians are believers. He is thankful that they will spend eternity with Jesus. Paul is also thankful that these believers are showing faith and love because they believe.


Paul is thankful for somebody else’s situation in life. He could be jealous of it. He could be threatened by it. Instead, he is thankful for it.


Do you thank God for the belief and Christian attributes of others, even if they don’t somehow affect you? Christians should be thankful, even when it doesn’t benefit them.


Leaders know that being truly thankful is a sign that you love those whom you’re thankful for. This is the ultimate goal, of course; To love those who you lead and to appreciate them for what God has made them.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Christians should be thankful not only of those things that benefit them but for people and what God has made them.


Here’s a set of verse for you to meditate on today: I Corinthians 1:4


Prayer: Father, make me thankful. Take the selfishness out of being thankful, and help me to be thankful of other people just for being what you have made them. Thank you, Father, Amen.

Day 25: 1 John 3:16

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”



Love is a very elusive thing in today’s world. It means too many things. I can love a cheeseburger, and I can love my parents. I can love my wife. All three of those things are different kinds of love (I hope).


The love that John is talking about here is unconditional love. The greek word is agape. Unconditional love is shown in Jesus’ life and of course, in his death on the cross to absorb the wraith of God that was meant for us.


John says that because Jesus did that, we can know what real love is. Our life before Jesus is marked with conditional love. We love the things we do based on what we get back from them. In Jesus’ case, He got nothing back by dying for us. Actually he got spit on and mocked. Not exactly what you’d expect, right?


Jesus showed unconditional love by laying His life down for us. That can mean the cross and other aspects. Remember that Jesus left heaven to become human to show us the way and then die for us. It took Jesus three years to disciple his crew and three days to die and rise again. His whole life was laid down for us.


John also says that knowing real love frees us to love others correctly, or like Jesus. Because Jesus died on the cross, because He shows us real love, we ought to lay down our lives for our brethren. Put quickly, we give up our lives for others.


This is the core of leadership, and it’s not what the world expects from it’s leaders. We lay down our lives for those that follow us. That’s the beautiful thing. We serve those we lead (and those we don’t lead) by giving up everything for them.


I use to think that laying down my life meant dying for somebody else. That seemed simple enough. I only had to do it once, and what were the chances I’d ever really have the opportunity to step into a bullet for someone or something like that?


Unfortunately, laying down your life is harder than that. You lay down your life every minute of every day. It’s a continual choice; and that’s what makes it hard. We don’t have to make that choice once; we have to do it with every breath. Christians lay down their lives for their brothers and sisters. Leaders lay down their lives for everyone.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Christ shows us what true love is by laying down His life so that we may lay down our lives for everyone around us.


Here’s a set of Verses to meditate on today: John 15:12-14


Prayer: Father, help me to lay down my life for those around me today. Remind me of your love, that I may mimic it to those I lead. In Christ’s name I pray, amen.

Day 24: Romans 10:17

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”



Have you ever found yourself exasperated after sharing your faith with someone? You know you shared the gospel right, your arguments were airtight, and your testimony was flawless. But still the other person walked away having not received the Lord. Agitating, isn’t it?


We’ve all found ourselves in that spot. It is agitating. It is frustrating. But be careful. Why is it agitating? Why is it frustrating? These are important questions. I think at first glance we’d want to say that it’s because they weren’t saved. That’s the right answer. We should have a heart that breaks for the lost.


I think, however, that sometimes we get upset because we didn’t save them. I know that you know that you can’t save them, but admit it: if you look deep into your soul and think about it, you’ll be thinking about ways to improve your presentation, improve your apologetics, and tweak your testimony. You may even look for a new way to share your faith, or the newest method by which to share your faith.


If this is you, let me warn you: evangelism has become about you.


We are not responsible for whether or not other people get saved. That is between them and God. We are only responsible for sharing the love of Christ with them. We are responsible to pray for them. We are not the Holy Spirit. We are not Jesus. We are not God.


As Christians, and especially Christian leaders, Jesus should just kind of ooze out of us from day to day. Our actions and our words should mimic those of Christ. We aren’t responsible for how others perceive that any more than we are responsible for if they are saved. We are simply called to be obedient.


Faith does come from hearing the word of God, but the real work is done by the Holy Spirit, which takes our words and convicts the hearer with them. Without the Holy Spirit, there’s no conviction. Without the Holy Spirit, there’s no conversion. Conversion has nothing to do with us. We are simply obedient to live like Jesus and share the Gospel.


The next time you get frustrated because a person wasn’t saved after you told them about Jesus, just pray for that person. Pray that the seed will be watered, and that someone else will see the joy of watching that very person believe in Jesus.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: You aren’t responsible for people converting to Christianity. You are responsible to tell them about Jesus and to live your life a testimony to Jesus.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: John 12:32-33


Prayer: Father, help me to keep my eyes on you. Help me to remember that I am to be obedient, and you use my obedience to bring people to faith in you. Thank you, Father, for your love and for the sacrifice of your Son. In Christ’s name, Amen

Day 23: Ephesians 1:2

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”



Two things about this passage really strike me. If you’re familiar with the way Paul begins his letters, you’ll find this phrase or a very similar phrase. It’s very apparent that Paul wishes this for the people that are receiving the letter. In fact, if we had Paul here today I think that he’d confirm that he really wants that for all people.


Second, it’s not about him. He didn’t wish them peace from Paul, he wished them peace from God.


This tells me two things about being a leader:


First, we should be worried about the people who “follow us.” It’s not enough to simply lead them. In today’s world, you may be a leader at a business, where people probably work for you. If you are a leader on a sports team, then people play for you. If you are the leader of a church, it’s a little different, but those people are still paying your salary. If we’re not careful, leadership becomes about what people that we lead can do for us. This is not the right attitude to have. Remember that Jesus said that we were to serve others. We are to look out for them, want the best for them, and strive to give them everything that we have. It’s almost a parental role. If we are looking at those we serve and asking what they can do for us, then we’re coming at it all wrong.


Second, Paul realizes that it’s not about him. If we are a Christian leader, especially in a Christian setting, people shouldn’t be following us at all, they should be following Jesus. Now, I know that sounds kind of funny, and of course they “follow” us, but where do we point them. Paul’s leadership didn’t point back to Paul, it pointed to Jesus. Our leadership should point to Jesus. Remember the old hymn “Let Others See Jesus in You?” This is how our leadership should be. In fact, this is how our lives should be.


As we learn to be leaders, and as we lead, make sure that it’s not about you at all. It’s about others, and it’s about God. Kinda rolls back to the royal command, doesn’t it? Everything does.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Leadership isn’t about the leader. A leader should be taking care of those they lead, and they should be pointing them to Jesus.


Here’s a set of verses for you to meditate on today: Mark 12:28-34


Prayer: Father, help me to lay less importance on myself and lead as you would have me to. Help me to care for those I lead. Help me to show You to them. Help me to become the last. In Christ’s Name, amen.

Day 22: Acts 13:2

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”



This verse is one of my favorites. It shows a couple of things. First, God called Paul and Barnabas to their work. It wasn’t something that they thought would be nice to do, nor was it some program that their church had dreamed up that they wanted Barnabas and Paul to lead. Their call was from God.


Furthermore, God didn’t get all specific about the kind of work it was. He just said “set them apart for Me.”


Third, it’s fascinating that the call came to the church, and not just to Paul and Barnabas.


And finally, please note what was going on when God’s call came: They were worshipping and fasting. They weren’t just sitting around doing other things and “Waiting” on the Lord. They were actively seeking His voice.


So it’s a couple thousand years later, and here you are waiting on a word from God. Maybe you just want some answers, maybe you want God to tell you what you’re supposed to do with your life. Maybe you’re just waiting on Him to take care of all of it for you.


Or maybe you just act out of time with God, neither waiting on Him or heeding His call. Maybe you just figure that He’ll stop you if you do something he doesn’t approve of .


Can I offer some advice? Your call and your work are very important, and they are very important to God. He will communicate them to you in His time. In the meantime, God will prepare you for His call with everyday life. Remember, there are no accidents and no coincidences. God has a plan for your life and a work specifically for you. He is moving you towards it. Wait for His timing, and wait for His call. You won’t be sorry.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Wait for God’s call. Don’t try to second guess Him or get ahead of Him. God’s purpose for your life is specific and you are tailor-made for it. Be patient, and learn from the life that God has given you.


Here’s a verse to meditate on today: Isaiah 6


Prayer: Father, give me patience as I await your call. Give me wisdom that I don’t run out ahead of you. Give me perseverance as I wait for you. Thank you for choosing me and honoring me with work in your kingdom. Amen.

Day 21: Galatians 1:9

“As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”



We have to be very careful about what we’re doing, what we’re saying, and what we’re relaying in our teachings. If you read Paul much, you’ll notice that he’s very concerned with the purity of the Gospel. Look at the strength he projects with Galatians 1:9. He is literally saying “if someone is preaching another gospel, let him go to hell.” Yeah, it’s that serious.


Paul was fighting a group of people that were purposefully coming behind Paul and trying to tinker with the gospel. It was turning the hearts of the people that Paul taught towards legalism, and Paul rightfully deplored it.


We can take a look at that and say “shame on those guys, who do they think that they are, screwing with God’s word like that?” We’d be right to do so. Remember, though, that most heretics don’t start out that way, and they don’t believe that they are heretics.


Why did Paul send Timothy into Ephesus? To stop people from falsely teaching. One of the main reasons that John wrote his first epistle was to stop a rash of false teaching. No doubt that these guys thought that they were right, too.


What I’m trying to say is that it’s real easy to get into bad teaching, and even easier for us as teachers to start practicing it. We have to be on our guard against it. Don’t be teaching or preaching from what we think is right, or what feels right to us; always back up your teaching biblically. Always be in context. Study from other sources to make sure you’re on the right path. Run your stuff by other people that you trust to have sound doctrine and teaching. You are not a force unto yourself, and given time and a good dose of ego, you’ll land yourself on the wrong side of Paul’s warning; and that’s not a place you want to be, even by accident.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: We have to be very careful about what we teach. We are held to a higher level of responsibility than others. We don’t want to be found preaching a wrong gospel or message.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: James 3:1-2


Prayer: Guard my heart and my words, Lord. Make them Your’s. Help me keep from striking out on my own when I teach, Lord. Help me to seek You in all that I do. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 20: 2 Corinthians 1:5-6

“For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”


Paul was no stranger to suffering. I don’t think any New Testament character, outside of Jesus, suffered more. Paul was in prison more, thrown out of more towns, stoned and left for dead, persecuted at every turn, and worse, rejected by many of his own churches at one time or another, as his letters to the Corinthians show.

This should say something to the Christian leader. If you are doing your job, suffering isn’t an option, it’s part of the job description. God allows us to make much of Him through joy and suffering. You get both sides of it.

Suffering isn’t an idea that we relish. In this day and age of instant comfort and gratification, we aren’t use to suffering. We’re so not used to it that when we see it on the nightly news in some other country it’s all we can do to look at it. The idea that we will suffer doesn’t set well with us.

However, look at what Paul writes. He states very plainly that with the suffering that he suffers, Christ offers abundant comfort. That is a cause/effect statement. We have comfort in Christ because of our position in Christ.

Take that to heart. You will suffer as a leader. Long hours, persecution, hard work, rejection, and failure; all these and more are yours. But with this is the comfort that only Christ can bring. A “peace that passes all understanding.”

Look closer at what Paul is saying: Paul’s suffering benefited his followers. So did his comfort. Our suffering sometimes does the same thing for our followers. We often suffer for their benefit. That’s love. All we have to do is look to Jesus, whose suffering benefited us, as an example of this kind of love and suffering.

Don’t be surprised when you suffer. It’s part of the gig. But know that Christ brings comfort. Seek it from Him. Seek it only from Him.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader will suffer in some manner. It’s part of the job; however, Christ offers comfort through the suffering.

Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Philippians 4:4-7

Prayer: Father, thank You for the promise that with suffering comes Your comfort. Thank you that I am worthy to suffer for Your sake and for that of the people that follow me. Help me to face suffering with dignity, patience, and perseverance. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Day 19: Philippians 1:3-5

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”


A leader has a very special mission from God. We have been allowed a stewardship of not only our own talent and gifting, but that of others as well. Let me unpack that a bit for you: we are given a certain amount of gifts and talents that God wants us to use for His kingdom. When you are a leader, and in charge of an organization or whatever, God is also giving you the talents and gifts of other people that you can direct and focus for His kingdom. That’s an amazing thing.

In Philippians 1, Paul is thanking the Philippian church for their participation in the gospel with him. He is probably referring to their support of him in his ministry, both monetarily and materially.

We need to be thankful for the people that follow us. They are people that have allowed us to lead them. These people aren’t a trophy on your shelf or a feather in your cap. They are people with gifts and talents, who, just like you, have been created for the purpose of bringing glory to God.

Don’t forget to treat those people who follow you as human beings. Leaders in the secular world are well known for treating their followers like resources: just another paper clip, computer, or cell phone that is theirs to use. That is not the MO of the Christian Leader. We understand that if we mistreat the people He has given us to lead, He can just as easily take them from us.

Like Paul, be thankful for those people that God has allowed you to lead. We are all in partnership with God in the gospel.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: God allows us to lead people for His glory. Don’t treat them as things. Be thankful for them and be in prayer for them.

Here’s a verse to meditate on today: Luke 22:24-30

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me a stewardship of leadership. Thank you for those people that have partnered with you in the gospel. Thank you for giving them to me to lead. Help me treat them with the same love and respect that you treat them. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 18: Romans 10:9

“If You Confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”


Have you ever found yourself missing the big picture? You’ve probably heard the saying, “He can’t see the forest for the trees,” haven’t you?

Sometimes as Christian leaders we forget the big picture. We forget why God has made us, and why He uses us. We get so busy trying to be leaders that we forget why we lead.

Don’t ever forget that the gospel is preimminent in every thing we do. As the great commission explains, our purpose here on earth is redemptive. We literally exist to spread the gospel.

We often forget that. We’re too busy trying to save the world from a number of other disasters, or trying to consume for our own pleasure, or we’re so caught up in our daily lives that we just don’t realize it.

God loves us so much that Jesus died in our place. We are recipients of that love, and if we truly are, then we will share it with others. As you are in school, at work, with your friends, or wherever you spend your time, remember what you’re here for: to be an image-bearer of God and display His grace and love for the world to see.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Don’t forget what you’re here for. Leadership is a calling that God has given you to work for the Kingdom of God, and that means that the Gospel is central to that calling.

Here’s a verse to meditate on today: John 3:16

Prayer: Father, help me keep my priorities straight. Help me to share Your gospel in word and deed with the whole world. In Christ’s name I pray, amen.