Word for the day: “Leaders get to work in collaboration with God.”
Luke 9:54 (NKJV) And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
BELOVED LEADERS,
Today’s message reminds us that we get to work in collaboration with the Lord in our leadership assignments. Whenever we move in our independence and own strength, we are operating in leadership futility. Please be advised that the assignment on your life is given by the Lord. So, how you manage that assignment is your gift back to the Lord.
It's amazing in my mind that the God of all creation (Genesis 1:1), creates space for you and I to work collaboratively with Him.
WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR SUCCESS.
What words would your friends or family use to describe you? Jesus referred to two brothers, James and John, as the Sons of Thunder. Why? We are given a glimpse of their fiery personalities in the Gospel, according to Luke. After the Samaritan people rejected them, James and John asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to consume the village.
Jesus rebuked them for their impulse to retaliate and took the opportunity to coach them in the basics of servant leadership. We get a glimpse of their transformation and how their leadership and hearts would be transformed. Jesus worked in these brothers’ lives so that they became known not for anger and revenge but for love and forgiveness.
In their collaboration assignment with Jesus, James was the first of the twelve disciples to give his life for his faith. He was killed in Jerusalem by the order of Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1-2). John later is referred to as the “disciple Jesus loved” (John 13:23). He went on to write powerful words on the importance of love and became an important leader of the church.
THE LORD CAN HELP YOU GROW TO BE A PERSON OF PURPOSE AND INFLUENCE.
Though the two brothers had once been ambitious for their own personal gain (Luke 22:24), they ended up courageously sharing God’s love with others for their spiritual gain. The brothers discovered that when you understand and experience God’s love, you are free to live and grow.
We all can learn from James and John that as you grow and share with others, you will be used by God to influence the lives of many in need of God’s healing help. There is also the well-known incident when the Mother of James and John named Salome asks Jesus to place one of her sons at His right hand when He establishes His kingdom (Matthew 20:20-21).
Jesus responds sharply to the request by telling them that they do not know what they are asking. He asks them, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” (Matthew 20:22) With their typical bravado, they answer, “We can.” They were still hoping that Jesus was about to establish a political kingdom in Israel. They did not realize that His kingdom would begin with His sacrificial, atoning death on the cross. It is somewhat befitting that James becomes the first martyr from among the Twelve.
Acts 12 records that Herod Agrippa had James put to death by the sword probably around 42 A.D. (Acts 12:1-2). The apostle John was an interesting combination: the disciple Jesus loved, and yet one who could be intolerant and self-seeking. James would be the first to die a martyr, and yet his brother would live the longest of all the apostles.
POINT TO PONDER
Can you relate to the anger and selfish ambition of these men? If so, be encouraged by God’s work in their lives. Our Lord wants to do the same for you and me! Enjoy your day, knowing the Lord is doing great work in your life.
Yet, the ultimate joy is God allows you and me to work in collaboration with Him, to make a difference in the lives of others in the world we live.
Special thanks!
Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO) James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in November 2023, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Rita McGuffin, Ms. Jeanette Grant, Ms. Cynthia Artis-Waiters, Ms. Michelle Winder Branch, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, Mr. Calvin Jackson, Mr. William Jones, Ms. Judith Battle, Mr. William Wilson, Mrs. Lola Moore, Mrs. Angela Harrison, Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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Kingdom Blessings,