1.  NOAH:  Leaders do what’s right even if they are alone
As Noah was boarding the ark, God said to him, “for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.” Literally the whole world was doing what was wrong. But did that deter Noah from doing what was right? Not a chance!

2.  JOSEPH: Leaders endure in spite of circumstances
Joseph had a pretty tough life. He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Joseph recognized that God orchestrated the events to put him in a position to save his family. Leaders have a vision that sustains them through difficult times.

3.   JOSHUA: Leaders rule by example rather than command
After leading his people into a new land, Joshua offered the Israelites the option to either serve the God who they had always served, who had brought them into the land, or serve the gods of the surrounding lands. “But as for me and my house,” he said, “we will serve the Lord.” The people answered in unison that they will pledge their allegiance to God. Because they believed in Joshua’s leadership, they followed Joshua’s example. He didn’t have to threaten them; he merely inspired them by his example.

4.  JESUS: Leaders are servants
One of the most powerful images in the life of Jesus was when He washed His disciples’ feet in John 13. When He finished, He said to them, “You call Me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Jesus, of course, wasn’t talking about feet. He was talking about servant-leadership. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. Great leaders wash their people’s feet.

5.  PETER: Leaders recover from failure
Peter denied knowing Jesus three times while Jesus was being crucified. He realized what he had done and wept bitterly. In Acts 2, we see Peter giving the first sermon after Jesus’s ascension into heaven–to a crowd of thousands of people. Leaders don’t become discouraged when they fail. They don’t wallow in self-pity and give up due to the mishap. They pick themselves back up and continue on. Leaders do better next time

6.   PAUL: Leaders are passionate for what they believe in
Paul was a very zealous individual. As a Pharisee, he violently opposed the spread of Christianity, killing and imprisoning Christians. When Jesus appeared to him and changed his mind, he became equally adamant about the truth of Christianity. Paul traveled across all of the known world, spreading the message about Jesus and establishing churches everywhere he went. Leaders are driven by a sense of purpose. Leaders have a fire lit under them and feel compelled to accomplish their objectives. There is no place for apathy in the life of a leader. Leaders always care…and care deeply.                                                               (DOUG RICE)

Imagine not being able to look at a reflection or picture of yourself for an entire week. You would wake up  every morning and try to wash your face, brush your teeth, and comb your hair with no idea of what you looked like.

How do you see yourself? How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you?

If that same person could know what you think and how you act and hear what you say 24 hours a day, what would they think of you?

God does know what you think and how you act, and He hears everything you say.

What was the only thing in the story of creation that was given life by the breath of God? Read Genesis 2:7.  What does that mean to you?

Read Genesis 1:26. Why are you a reflection of God?

How are you described in Peter 2:9-10?
The next time you look in mirror and see a reflection of yourself, consider that you are a reflection of God.

Reflect Him well to others today.

Oswald Chambers asks,
“Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Himself?”

The rich, young ruler of Luke 18 came asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus gave him the answer I think he was expecting. “You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”  The young ruler may have thought to himself that Jesus would be pleased and tell him he had passed the test. Indeed, he had done those things, but he was unprepared for the second part of the response. “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The ruler walked away sad. As it turned out, his devotion was to his idea of what Jesus wanted. Jesus surprised him by demanding something he did not anticipate—a love that would make him lay down everything he held dear and follow a wandering rabbi to unknown places living a life he couldn’t reconcile with what he had always believed. The ruler was a man bent on righteousness and service. He lived carefully.

David, on the other hand, lived – with a heart of passion toward God. Intermingled with his greatness, there is a list of moral failings. When the prophet Nathan confronted him after his adultery with Bathsheba, David’s immediate response was, “I have sinned against the Lord.” He then confessed his guilt, pleaded for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration. Perhaps it was David’s willingness to always stand stripped before the Lord that made him the man after God’s heart. His nearly naked dance into Jerusalem while the house of Israel brought the ark back into the city may be the metaphor that best depicts David’s joyous unselfconscious abandonment to God.

Somehow, I don’t think the rich young ruler would have been caught doing such a thing. After all, he was more devoted to what he thought Jesus wanted than he was to Jesus.

This is really the crux of the matter for us. Do we merely believe in Jesus and serve Him carefully or do we love Him and follow Him, even if it means living with the contempt of others – even if it makes life untidy, even if it departs from what we always thought Jesus wanted?

It seems to me that when we love God, we please Him most. The ruler came minus sins (so he thought), but also minus love and was sent away sad. David came dancing and loving and yes, sinning. Expressing the most fervent contrition, David deplored his own sin, but he neither walked self-consciously through life nor stopped running toward God with a passion. It was David’s passion that pleased God and moved Him in love to call this flawed king a man after His own heart.                                           (LISA DYE)

In his song, Identity, Lecrae Moore raps, “I’m not the shoes I wear. I’m not the clothes I buy. I’m not the house I live in. I’m not the cars I drive. I’m not the job I work. You can’t define my worth by nothing on God’s green earth. My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ.” You may or may not appreciate Christian rap, but you can’t deny the biblical truth found in this song.

The world tries to sell us something different. “Come on,” the voices say, “You know you feel a heightened sense of self-worth when you slide onto the leather seats and behind the wheel of this fantastic driving machine.” Even believers say, “Why, yes; yes, I do.” But as believers, our identity cannot be found in clothes, houses, cars, or jobs. Our identity must be found in Christ alone. Because of Christ, I have been accepted as a child of the living God.

My identity is in Christ. Nothing can change that. It never goes out of style. It never rusts or decays. It never gets old or breaks down. I am a child of God and will forever be!

Father, please don’t let me believe the lies of the world that possessions, position, and appearance are the things that provide a sense of worth. Don’t let my identity be found in my ministry or my calling. Remind me often that I am Your child…and will be Your child forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.     (RON MOORE)

The Centurion in the story doesn’t see in Jesus some nice guy who’s a good teacher with some magical powers. He sees a King with authority. But he recognizes something else. Not only does he know that Jesus has authority and power over all things, but he also recognizes that he doesn’t. He recognizes that he needs Jesus. He needs Jesus to be able to face the things in life that come his way. Because Jesus is the only one with authority over everything.

You see, it doesn’t matter how much authority or power we THINK we have, or how much we THINK we are in control of things. The reality is that Jesus is the only One with supreme authority over all things.

The Centurion doesn’t just say that he knows Jesus has the authority to heal. He also says, by coming to Jesus, “Jesus, I DON’T have control. I DON’T have authority. I can order my soldiers around, but I have no control over this sickness. But you do. I am NOT in control. I have NO authority. I have NO power. But YOU DO!

That’s REAL faith. Not just placing our confidence, our trust, our dependence, our belief in Jesus. But also NOT depending on ourselves.

What part of your life comes under Jesus’ authority? Is your marriage under his authority? Are your morals under his authority? Your finances, your work, your time, your future plans? Following Jesus isn’t about being from a Christian family. Following Jesus isn’t about going to church. Following Jesus isn’t about saying the right creeds, or giving money, or how much time you spend praying or reading the Bible. Following Jesus isn’t about being religious or spiritual or devout or pious. It’s not about knowing more or doing more.

It’s about REAL faith in Jesus. Not in ourselves. It’s about recognising Jesus’ authority over ALL of our life. You might be comfortably walking along in life at the moment, ticking all the right boxes, following the right path, doing  all the right things, nothing’s out of control, finances are good, relationships are OK. You’re getting by following the teachings of Jesus. Reading your Bible. Praying. Getting to Church. But are you putting things in your life under Jesus’ authority?

Are you just following? Or are you faithful? Is your life under his authority?   (REV BRUCE STANLEY)