Being Un-liked
There are some offensive things that we Christians sometimes do that cause people to dislike us. Being judgmental, acting ‘holier than thou’, and generally lacking love… these things are a great turnoff. We need to learn to be like our Father, who sacrificially loved the world (John 3:16)
But as we do so, we need to realize that there will be some who reject us, not because of what we do but because of Who we represent. And as we carry out our mission, we should expect to encounter some people who despise us because of what’s happening in their own lives – for example guilt, fear or even a sense that their way of life will be threatened by what we represent. I felt this keenly when I lived in the West, and nowadays, I sense some of that even here. And I’ve sometimes picked it up from the least expected quarters through the time I’ve led Mavuno.
Sad, because we all like to be liked… but inevitable! The person who never faces opposition is the person without a significant mission. So consider yourself warned (John 15:18-27)
Lord, help me to love, despite knowing that not all will accept this love and some will outrightly reject it. Help me to stay focused on what You called me to. And help me to remember that at the end of the day, my mission is not to be liked but to reach my generation with Your life changing truth. AMEN
Fruit
Bearing fruit is the ultimate thing a vine does. All other activity is geared towards this one activity. It’s not about having lush, green leaves (read – frantic activity). No fruit means everything else is absolutely useless. Incidentally, this passage is where the idea came from to read through the book of John.
I am encouraged today by the following passages…
v.8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit…
v.16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.
None of us wants to live a life of mediocrity. To be born, go to school, get married, have kids, and then die. There’s got to be more to life! I know that I want my life to count for something. I want to have a positive impact on my generation. I want to leave this continent far better than I found it…
The good news is… my Creator has the same desire for me. He wants me to live an effective life that has ultimate meaning. He wants me to bear much fruit. That’s why He made me as I am and that’s why He chose me to be where I am…
Lord, thanks that as I cooperate with you (stay connected), it is to your interest that I bear much fruit. May every day, including today, count towards this. Help me have an effective and focused week. Give me opportunities to show you love to others. And may I have a great feeling of satisfaction this week, knowing that it was not about activity, but effectiveness. AMEN
Staying Connected – Week Six
Apologies… forgot to post this earlier!
Walala! Can’t believe it’s week six already! If you’re new to this blog, a bunch of us have been reading devotionally together through the gospel of John. This past week, we’ve learnt extravagant worship from Mary, whose brother Jesus had brought back from the dead. We’ve learnt some incredible leadership lessons from Jesus, including how to be a separated leader, how to lead selflessly and how not give up on those we lead. We’ve learnt how to surrender totally to God, and to see eternity in the mundane things of life. Thanks for sharing all you’ve been learning. Together, we’re a modern day band of disciples walking the dusty paths of Palestine with Jesus and learning from him.
So… welcome to week six!
MON 14:15-31
TUE 15:1-17
WED 15:18-27
THU16:1-16
FRI 16:17-33
SAT 17:1-25
Don’t Give Up
When we began Mavuno Church, we felt God was calling us to reach out to people who would not fit in any traditional church: People who had real issues. We wanted to give our generation the message that in God they could find their purpose, and that coming to Him was the key that unlocked their huge potential. We wanted them to know that God had not given up on them: That they didn’t need to be super-saints to have audience with God. That God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Jesus knew that his followers had real issues. Judas would betray him and Peter would disown him. The rest would all run away. He was troubled and concerned about this. And yet he didn’t give up on them. Even after they had failed him, they each had a choice to get back up again and to return to Jesus. Peter did. Judas didn’t.
Lord, thanks for Your unconditional love, despite my many issues. And give me a true love for people who have issues. May they experience Your love and acceptance when they hear me speak. Help me not to give up on anyone that you would not give up on. AMEN
Leading Selflessly
It’s hard to serve others! Especially when you’re a leader… It’s so much easier for it to be about ‘what’s in it for me?’ And yet Africa will only be transformed by a generation of selfless leaders who will give themselves to serve others without trying to line their own pockets or to entrench themselves in power. This is especially difficult because leadership can be such a thankless task! What will it take to become such leaders? Some clues in John 13…
- Jesus knew God; he knew God’s agenda for him in the season of life he was in. This is what allowed him to love his disciples unreservedly…
- Jesus knew himself; he knew his true identity in God. This is what allowed him to serve his followers sacrificially…
Jesus knew what was in his followers hearts; that not all of them fully supported his leadership or deserved his service. And yet because of knowing God and knowing himself, he was still able to love and serve them. Lesson for me: It takes a leader who is confident in God and secure in own his position to love people unreservedly and to serve them sacrificially.
Lord, help me to know You so well and to know my position in You so fully that I will be able to love people unreservedly and to serve them sacrificially. I pray that I will be one of the many leaders You will raise for this continent who make a difference by leading selflessly. Please give me opportunities to grow as a selfless leader, even today. AMEN
A Separated Leader
Yesterday, I met with two teams; Mavuno’s executive team that gives big picture leadership to Mavuno and my senior pastor’s team that helps coordinate & execute my leadership role. Both teams are new this year, and are answers to prayers I prayed mid last year, when I felt completely overwhelmed & outstripped by my leadership responsibilities at Mavuno. These teams will free me this year to do what only I can do. As I met them, I marveled at how gifted each person on those teams is. And consequently how I need to up my game as a leader in order to lead such extraordinary people.
That’s why I love my brief for today. In John 12:49-50, Jesus says ‘for I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his commands lead to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say’.
One of my mentors recently spoke to me about the importance of being a ‘separated leader’. This is a leader who leads not out of giftedness, determination, hard work or instinct, because there is a level of leadership where these qualities though important are not enough. But this person leads out of spiritual authority developed from time spent with God. Both Moses and Jesus were separated leaders.
Lord, please help me to be a separated leader. One who hears your voice very clearly and who then leads people to life, because he/she leads or speaks only out of what God has revealed. Help me practice listening to you throughout the day. I pray that I will model this kind of leadership for all those who learn from me, including my children. AMEN
Eternity In The Mundane
Giving up on our self-directed lives often feels like death. And in a huge sense it is! Continually turning over full management of our lives to God can be a very scary experience. But the paradox is that it’s the only way to truly receive the life for which we were created. That’s why Jesus talks dying as the entrance to real living for a grain of wheat (John 12:24). The process begins with the surrender of salvation but continues with the daily obedience to and following of Jesus’ commands. In other words, staying connected.
I’m also learning that it’s extremely easy to walk through life unaware of the eternal significance of the things I am doing. This was the experience of Jesus’ closest friends (John 12:16), who didn’t realize that even their mundane tasks had incredible significance and were helping fulfill ancient prophecy.
Lord, please help me not be afraid to be totally yielded to You in every way. And in the process, please open my eyes that I will be aware of the eternal significance of every task I do today, including all my meetings and appointments. AMEN
Staying Connected – Week Four
At the beginning of this year, I set out with a group of companions to seek a ring of great power. Oops… wrong movie! Actually, I set out with the said group to find the greatest treasure of all; connecting with our Maker as we travel through the book of John. It’s been a great journey so far, some surprising twists and turns, and we’re learning truths that are transforming us from the inside out. And who needs a ring of power when you can be hooked up with the greatest power in the universe!
So – join us in our journey! And to my fellow travelers, thanks for sharing… I’m learning tons from you. Here is your map for this week’s journey…
MON 12:1-11
TUE 12:12-36
WED 12:37-50
THU13:1-17
FRI 13:18-38
SAT 14:1-14
Cooperating With God’s Agenda
I love the fact that Jesus was so connected with God that when he prayed in public, it wasn’t for his sake but for the sake of those listening. In his time alone with God, he had already had the vital conversations. God had already given him his brief. He had the big picture and knew how to respond in every situation. For example in John 11 when Lazarus died, Jesus knew God’s intention and purpose for the whole saga and his job was simply to cooperate with God’s agenda.
Do you also notice that there are some people who’ll never agree with you, regardless of what you say or do? So quit trying to impress them or justify yourself and get along doing what God has called you to do!
Lord, I earnestly desire to be soooo closely connected to You in my times with You that I’m not praying in panic whenever I face a tough situation in my day, but I’m briefed and know what Your intention and purpose is. May I daily cooperate with Your agenda, without being distracted by the many critics who’ll never be impressed anyway by anything I say or do. AMEN
Indifference Is Not An Option
One of my friends at Mavuno, Dr. Mukuria, has a pretty informative blog about the Mau forest. Check it out here… His organization, Refuge, has a passion for rallying Christians around issues of the environment in our nation. Definitely something we all need to be involved in. When it comes to our environment, indifference is not an option!
Okay, on to my brief for the day. To his listeners, it was clear that Jesus was claiming not to be a sage or prophet, which they would have been happy with, but God himself! No other respected religious leader in history claimed the same for themselves. As someone once said, it’s not accurate to say Jesus was a good man. His claims mean he was either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord of the universe! If he was one of the first two, then He should not be admired, and his followers should be among the most pitied people in all the earth (google 1Corinthians 15:19-20)!
But if he was Lord as he claimed, then everything we know about the world changes. The song ‘what if God was one of us’ takes on a new meaning. And the words in the bible, including the gospel of John, become essential answers to humanity’s deepest questions about why we exist and what is the meaning of life. In other words, they become our daily brief.
Even back then, responses to Jesus were polarized; some wanted to stone him while others believed in and followed him. Once you encounter him and his claims, indifference is not an option. It’s like discovering for a certainty that the stock market is going to go up twenty times in value over the next year. You can’t just say you believe; your lifestyle and priorities totally change!
Lord, thanks for the assurance today that I am yours and that no one can snatch me out of Your hands. Nothing can separate me from Your love. May my lifestyle and priorities reflect this truth. May my confidence in all I do today spring from this fact. AMEN
