AuthorTerry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ. See his complete bio at trbaughman.com Archives
August 2019
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Patience in the Process8/18/2019  Patience in the Process
PREPARING FOR THE HARVEST Terry R. Baughman “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:8–9). So, we sow. Then we water. Now we wait. Farming is not for the anxious or the impulsive individuals. It requires patience. Growth takes time. Maturity does not emerge overnight, nor does fruit develop in an instant. That is not to imply that the farmer does nothing while awaiting the time for harvest. There is always something to do. Equipment often needs repair, servicing, and cleaning. Fences need mending and buildings require maintenance. There is a never ending to-do list of projects. The harvest, however, necessitates a hands off season of just waiting. Sometimes the rows can be plowed or weeds removed, but the plants that are growing toward harvest cannot be disturbed lest their health should be compromised and their fruitfulness be thwarted. Growth is quite natural and will come at the rate it is designed to produce. Growing is a process and it is continual. Some varieties grow rapidly and develop their fruit within days, while others take years to reach maturity. We all enjoy the reaping and the benefits of harvest, but there’s a whole lot of waiting in-between times. Harvest is not just the fruit of our labor and the produce of what we have sown. We can also reap a harvest where others have sown. Jesus announced to the disciples who were with Him in Samaria, “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” Then, He continued to explain the process, “One sows and another reaps. … I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors” (John 4:35; 37–38). We are all part of the process. Whether sowing or reaping, watering or weeding, we are all participants in the harvest of eternity. Matthew recorded the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The landowner went into the marketplace seeking workers early in the morning. He hired them and put them to work. Then, he returned for more workers by mid-morning. Obviously, there was a bumper crop and an abundant harvest that demanded more workers. Again, he returned at noon and in the afternoon. Each time he contracted more workers to bring in the harvest. Finally, in the last hour of daylight, he returned to the market and pled for more workers; even paying them a full day’s wage just to help get the harvest in before it was too late. (See Matthew 20:1–16.) God has brought us into the eleventh hour ministry of the Kingdom of God. While many have labored long and hard throughout the day, and many workers have joined the force of believers, we know that this generation is vested with the greatest responsibility of all. We must arise to the challenge of the final reaping, the harvest of souls in the last hours of opportunity. We must continue to sow more seed, water and tend the field God has given us. When the seed is in the ground and the watering is being accomplished, we will wait for the moment of fulfillment and the emergence of the harvest. Let us practice patience in the process. We must wait when it is time to wait, but eagerly launch into the harvest when the fruit is ready. Recognize when the fields are ready for reaping. Now is the time and today is our day. We have waited with patience, now let us reap the everlasting harvest! Scripture: “Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
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Watering Dirt8/11/2019  Watering Dirt
PREPARING FOR THE HARVEST Terry R. Baughman “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. … For we are God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7, 9). Anyone who has planted a garden or even stuck a bean in a pot of potting soil had this experience, watching and watering dirt. The seeds are covered. The dirt is carefully raked over the shallow grave where the seed will perish and never be seen again. For the beginner learning the principles of agriculture and horticulture this period of time after the planting is the most anxious. Some may question: “Will it grow?” “How long should I wait?” “Is the seed viable?” “Will I ever see anything grow from this dirt?” Watering dirt may seem like a futile task. After all, it is just dirt. The sun shines on it and drys out the water that was carefully applied earlier. As the dirt drys it needs more water, but not too much water. Again, the questions: “How much water is enough?” “How much water is too much?” So, the gardener learns to believe in the process. Preparation of the soil is important and may take some time. Planting can be done quickly, but the next stage is the most difficult. Water and wait. Water and wait. In each of the synoptic gospels the parable of the sower is repeated. Jesus shared the parable and the interpretation with His disciples. The focus was on the different types of soil and their ability to produce growth of the seed. Some soils were shallow and rocky and could not retain sufficient water, so the tender new plant withered and died in the hot sun. Other seeds fell on the unprepared soil of the harden footpath. There was no place to root so no growth took place. Perhaps birds picked up the uncovered seed to supplement their diet. Among the thorns there was no place for a small plant to survive and increase was dwarfed. It was only in the good soil that growth and harvest took place. There is no problem with the seed. Jesus said the seed is the Word of God. It is good seed and it will bring forth in its season. When the soil is prepared and the seed is sown all we need to do is … water and wait! Jesus spoke of the seed as that which dies in the dirt. He said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24). The death of the seed is as important to the harvest as the growth of the new plant. The dying seed is absorbed into the emerging life of a resurrected in a living plant. The water is vital to the process. Water provides the moisture that softens the outer shell and brings life to the tiny kernel that hold the destiny of a new life within it. Some of our efforts seem pointless, even wasted. We water and we see nothing happening on the surface. Yet we water in faith, believing for the eventual evidence of life that shall emerge from the dampened soil. We pour into the lives of others in anticipation of growth and fruitfulness. Sometimes we wait and wonder if the fruitful season will ever come, but that is not our responsibility. We plant. We water. God gives the increase. We stare in faith at barren soil, but we labor in hope that something good will result from our efforts. We are workers together with God. We do our part and rest in faith that He will complete what He has started out to do. Keep pouring into the lives of others. We never know when new life from the seed is going to emerge and growth will begin to spring up. Until then, keep on watering dirt! Scripture: “Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
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Sowing the Seed8/3/2019  PREPARING FOR THE HARVEST
Terry R. Baughman “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. … Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:6, 10). A fundamental principle of Scripture and of nature is that one will reap what has been sown. Anyone familiar with gardening, farming, or agriculture understands the principle well. Whatever produce is desired requires the same kind of seed in the beginning stage as expected in the final outcome. Whether it is corn, potatoes, strawberries or peaches the first stage is the planting, cultivating, watering, and waiting for the appropriate stages of growth, maturity and reaping. From Jesus’ teaching of the parable of the sower and the soils (Luke 8:5–10), to Paul’s analogy of sowing in death and reaping in resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:35–38; 42–44), there is an abundance of biblical illustrations relating to the process of planting and harvest. These stories connect with us because we all enjoy the produce of agriculture and benefit from the principles of growth. They are easily understandable and convey the kernel of truth. Paul said, “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV). Though this is often quoted in a negative context, it may also be applied to a positive promise. If good things are sown we can expect a harvest of like kind. If love and kindness are planted, goodness and mercy will follow. The harvest is the anticipated outcome. Produce comes in the fulfillment of the growing season. Planting is never performed for practice and sowing is not the end of good deeds. There is always an expectation of growth, development, fruition, and harvest. Planting is not in vain and produce is never a surprise; it is expected. Can we sow the seeds of spiritual increase with faith for the eventual return? Can we confidently toil in the Lord’s vineyard with the assurance that we will drink from the fruit of our labor? Planting requires faith. When the seed is placed in the ground we can no longer see it. We may wonder if anything is happening, if growth is beginning, or if we have lost our investment in the dirt. Dirt is cheap. It is abundant. It has no food value and we wonder if it has what it takes to bring for the young plant. We must have faith in what we cannot see. Faith is “the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). That is what makes it faith. The power is in the seed, but the power will never be released until the seed goes into the dirt, until it dies, and until it emerges in a whole new manifestation. God has placed the power in the seed to become what it is destined to be. “What you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body” (1 Corinthians 15:36–38). Planting takes time, but the seed requires even more time. We must patiently wait for the outcome. While we wait we continue to plant. We don’t dig up the field we have already planted, but we move on to another field, another opportunity, another plot of dirt with fresh seed and the faith to know something is going on beneath the surface. “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10). We are planning on an increase. We are planting for the harvest. Scripture: “Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
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Celebrating Small Things7/27/2019  Celebrating Small Things
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you …?” (Matthew 6:28-30). Are there any small miracles? Really, if it qualifies as a miracle it is no small thing! Any event that is supernatural, unexplainable, and undeniably an answer to prayer or a demonstration of Divine intervention we call it a miracle. All such events are a witness to the power of God working in our lives. Sometimes people are almost apologetic for celebrating something perceived to be insignificant. They shrug and say, “It’s just a small thing,” as if to minimize the miraculous element. However, if it is important to you it is significant to God. If it is a big thing in your life, then it is a great miracle regardless of how minor it seems. When we face an impossible situation only a miracle can turn things around to make a solution possible. An incurable ailment, while it might not be life-threatening, becomes a condition that requires a supernatural healing. Depression or oppressive influences in our lives compel us to seek deliverance from God alone. The overwhelming power of sin bring a staggering weight upon a life that can only be lifted by a spiritual antidote, the power of Jesus Christ to break the bondage of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit to transform and renew us into His image. This is the greatest miracle of all and certainly no small thing! Take notice of the work of God in our daily lives. From the beauty of a sunrise to the glorious hues of color in a sunset, from the first breath of a new day to the last sigh of weariness from a long day’s work, from the simple relief found in a whispered prayer to the news of cancer’s remission, any miracle is a moment to rejoice. Praise God for each blessing, every answered prayer, and any positive report you receive throughout the day. Nothing is too small to warrant thanksgiving and exaltation of our great God. Scripture illustrates God’s care for the insignificant. He knows the number of hairs on our head (even if it’s a diminishing number). He takes note of the sparrow that falls and attends to the flowers of the field. He makes all things beautiful and is aware of all alterations in nature. Nothing happens without His notice and there is no change of His creation that He doesn’t observe and document. (See Matthew 6:25–34 and Luke 12:22–31. Also, see Matthew 10:29–30 and Luke 12:6–7.) We often focus on the greatness of God. As Jeremiah exclaimed, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). However, His greatness also extends to the minutia. It not just the big stuff of which God is in control, but every little thing. Nothing is beyond His reach our outside of His care. God is with us and He is working through us to perform His good pleasure. So, while we should continue praising Him for the great things, let us also celebrate the small things … everything He is doing! Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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A Reason to Celebrate7/21/2019  A Reason to Celebrate
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “Our hearts bubble over as we celebrate the fame of your marvelous beauty, bringing bliss to our hearts. We shout with ecstatic joy over your breakthrough for us. You’re kind and tenderhearted to those who don’t deserve it and very patient with people who fail you. Your love is like a flooding river overflowing its banks with kindness” (Psalm 145:7–8 TPT). We have a reason to rejoice and a cause for celebration. When we recount the wonderful works of God that He has done from the beginning, and what He continues to do in our lives it brings joy to our hearts. God’s desire is that we may have joy present in our relationship with Him. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). While others boast of jubilant gatherings, festive parties, and loud celebrations, they often are left empty and sick the following day. Jesus revealed the truth of the contrast in the same verse, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). It’s the deception of the enemy that promises good times, happiness, and exuberant excess, but the path does not lead to the promised outcome. Peter wrote, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption” (2 Peter 2:19). The broad road is a detour and ends with a drop-off of destruction. “For the end of those things is death,” Paul warned. (Romans 6:21). The deception is deliberate and the enemy is out to ensnare all who will respond. The pattern is clear, “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15). The joy that Jesus brings is in sharp contrast to the dirge of sin and the disappointments of deception. The prophets predicted the that coming Savior would not disappoint and His deliverance was declared, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). David sang, “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation” (Psalm 35:9). From millennia past to the present time witnesses proclaim the glory of God. “Generation after generation will declare more of your greatness and declare more of your glory. Your magnificent splendor and the miracles of your majesty are my constant meditation. Your awe-inspiring acts of power have everyone talking! I’m telling people everywhere about your excellent greatness!” (Psalm 145:4–6 The Passion Translation). David continues to extol the glory of our God. Other translations of the passage say that we will “eagerly utter” our testament of His goodness, this version captures the literal understanding of the text, “Our hearts bubble over as we celebrate the fame of your marvelous beauty, bringing bliss to our hearts. We shout with ecstatic joy over your breakthrough for us” (Psalm 145:7 TPT). Our joy is as a fountain springing up with a fresh overflow of jubilation. God is glorious and worthy of celebration. Jesus confirmed the imagery of a fountain when He spoke to the woman at the well. To those who asked for His refreshing, He promised, “The water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14 NIV). There is an everlasting supply of fresh water in the well of salvation. Come and drink! All will find a reason to celebrate! Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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The Hope of Renewal7/14/2019  The Hope of Renewal
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” (Lamentations 3:22–24). Before God we would never stand a chance in our own attempts to justify our actions. Our guilt would condemn us and our sin would become glaringly obvious. Righteous judgment would surely require us all to be exterminated before the face of a holy God. Paul wrote with conviction, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). When faced with our failures we are utterly hopeless. “But God so loved the world …” (John 3:16). Hopeless despair is replaced with Divine intervention. Condemnation is exchanged with unmerited favor. Grace was given where judgment was required. Hundreds of years before Christ came, the Prophet Jeremiah was inspired by God’s amazing mercies. In the face of national judgment there was the assurance of incredible mercies. The prophet recognized that it was only by His mercy that they were not all consumed in judgment. He found His faithfulness to be unfailing, mercy to be unending, and the compassion of our God was renewed every morning. In the face of such undeserved and undeniable grace Jeremiah exclaimed, “Therefore I hope in Him!” (Lamentations 3:24). If Jeremiah found our God to be so merciful against the backdrop of national judgment and captivity by the Babylonians, should we not also find great hope in God? We have the benefit of the incredible story of Jesus coming to earth, loving and teaching the people and empowering His followers. We have the wonderful illustration of the cross and the incredible sacrifice of the Savior. If Jeremiah could find hope in the midst of crisis and confidence in the faithfulness of God, how much more should we acknowledge His mercies and rejoice in His favor. Often our problems are magnified by proximity. Everything in our field of vision is greater than any other problem at any other time in history. In reality our problems are small and our blessings are abundant. His grace is sufficient and His mercies are everlasting. When we refocus our vision and correct our depth of field we find that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think. (See Ephesians 3:20.) We have no need that is beyond His ability and no sin that His provision cannot cover. Though we fail continually and our sin seems to be overwhelming, our hope is in Christ the Lord. His mercies are renewed everyday. Our promise and our hope is the opportunity to experience His grace again and again. The mercy that we have received so abundantly we must extend to others. We cannot forget our failings as we gauge the faults of others. Paul spoke to believers, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:12–13). Inasmuch as mercy has been multiplied toward us, let us also show mercy. In the same manner as we have been forgiven, we must also forgive. Renewal is offered freely and continually. That is our hope and also our privilege to share the same hope with others. Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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The Power of Refraction7/7/2019  The Power of Refraction
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, ‘I see men like trees, walking.’ Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly” (Mark 8:23–25). A double convex lens can be used to magnify our vision or sharpen the focus of what we see through the physics of refraction. In this process of bending light with shaped glass we are able to adjust our focus. This technique is commonly applied through eyeglasses. Bifocals even allow two areas of focus to refine the sharpening of our vision. Long before the first spectacles were created to enhance vision there was a blind man in Bethsaida that was brought to Jesus with the hope of having his vision restored. In this unusual event Jesus took him out of town, spit in his eyes, touched him and asked him what he could see. Though his vision was improved to the point where he could see light, shapes and images, it appears that his healing was incomplete. He said, “I see people walking around like trees.” Then Jesus touched his eyes once again. Instantly the man was completely healed. His vision was restored and he saw everything clearly. While this was a remarkable miracle in the ministry of Jesus, it is no less of a miracle when Jesus gives us spiritual insight and focus to our blurred vision. Sometimes we just need a second touch! With age it is common for our eyesight to change. Where we were once able to focus easily there comes a time when we are no longer able to adjust our eyes to refine our vision clearly. We may find ourselves stretching our arms further in an attempt to bring clarity to the printed page or some fine detail of a task we are attempting to perform. Sometimes in frustration we reach for reading glasses or a magnifying glass to bring focus and clarity in a moment of need. Refraction can also enable us to see images of the invisible, from the tiniest molecule to stars and galaxies far away. From microscopes, to rifle scopes, to binoculars, to powerful telescopes, we may choose a variety of instruments to bring focus on things we have never seen. Perhaps we can ask God to give us spiritual refraction, bending His perfect light and vast insight to a plane where we can visualize it. With His help we may refocus our sight and refine our vision. Things previously unseen become clear and the invisible becomes defined. Moses opposed Egyptian tyranny and fled from the palace of privilege. He identified with the faith of His heritage. He rejected Egyptian religious teachings and pagan training. He sought the true God and observed His instructions. The writer of Hebrews recorded, “He endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). That glimpse of the invisible was never satisfied and he continually sought to know more of Him. The Psalmist David wrote that God’s Word, “Is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). May the light of His Word provide direction for our journey and illuminate our vision. View all of life through the refraction of His Word and Spirit and receive clarity, refocus, and renewal for every future step. Let us refocus our vision and renew our commitment to walk in His Will. Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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The Dilemma of Distractions6/30/2019  The Dilemma of Distractions
REFOCUS, RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATION Terry R. Baughman “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:32–33). There are so many distractions that cause us to lose our focus. There is no time to be quiet, reflective, or contemplative. There’s just too much to accomplish. Our days are filled with activity and we sigh that we are so busy … and yet we have time for social media, a chat with friends, or we squeeze in enough time to spend an hour catching up on the latest installment of a show. Obviously, if we have time to do some of those things we are not that busy! This is not to suggest that we shouldn’t chat with friends, stay connected on social media, or have some down time for something relaxing in our lives. This is to illustrate how that we all have time … it is just a matter of how we choose to use it. Everyone is equal in the time allocation. Even Jesus said, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (John 11:9–10). He spoke of the contrast of walking in the light as opposed to walking in darkness, but He acknowledged that there are twelve hours in a day. If it seems that some people get a whole lot more out of their allotment of time than others, perhaps they have learned to manage their time better … or perhaps they have learned to minimize distractions and stay focused on the more important tasks they wish to accomplish. Time management is a skill that we should learn and practice, but how much more could we accomplish just by putting down the phone, logging off of our email account for a couple of hours, or creating a prioritized todo list. Now that may sound as much fun as developing a weekly budget, but both are practical ways to accomplish a desired goal. One is to get out of debt and the other is to become more productive with our time. As we enter the midpoint of another year, take a few minutes to evaluate what has been accomplished in the first six months. By July 1st we should be halfway to our goals for the year. If we have much more to reach at that point, then we have either set our goals too high or we have become distracted from our progress and failed to finish the intermediate steps toward our ambitions. In several passages of the Old Testament there are similar references to our text, “Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32). The admonition is clear. In order to do what the Lord commanded there must be forward motion, we must avoid detours and distractions, and continue doing what God requires. It’s not difficult, but progress is essential. Avoid the temptation to look one way or the other. Put on spiritual blinders that block out movement and commotion on either side. Look ahead, focus on the prize, “Reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13). Scripture: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
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Raising Men of Valor6/22/2019  Raising Men of Valor
GOD’S PLAN FOR THE FAMILY Terry R. Baughman “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:8–9). One of the most inspiring passages of the Old Testament is found at a critical transition of leadership. Moses had died and his assistant Joshua was selected to take the position vacated by his passing. God called Joshua and recounted the past faithfulness of this young man who was never far away from his leader and mentor. The Lord assured Joshua that He would be with him just as He was with Moses. The same mission of deliverance and promise would be continued through the leadership of Joshua. Challenges will threaten his leadership and the opposition in the land of Canaan will be severe. His very life will be in danger, but God gave him a promise that would sustain him through every difficult day, “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6–7). God’s purpose will be fulfilled. If the promise does not come in our lifetime, we can be assured it will follow in the next, or the next. Understanding the timeless destiny of His divine purpose empowers us to look beyond our own success to see the long range fulfillment of His will. Without the perception of Moses there would not have been a leader readied to assume leadership. It appears that Moses mentored and molded the young man to step into the calling that God had placed on his life. Joshua responded to the call and surrendered to his destiny. He served faithfully until the day God spoke these words of confirmation into his life. In church leadership or in our homes there must be a sense of destiny and intentional direction given to the next generation. Our children are our legacy. Our sons and daughters must be prepared to take their positions of leadership in the future. This generation desperately needs young men and women to be prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow. Paul exhorted Titus to, “Encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:6–8 NIV). Our men should be taught to be bold, strong, courageous, but kind, gentle, loving, and caring. There is a balance of strength and tenderness desired in masculinity. One author pictured this balance as “men of steel and velvet.” These are coveted characteristics in men of leadership. They should be strong, courageous, and assertive when needed. They should also be tenderhearted to the hurting, compassionate to the weak, and loving to their families. May they be men of valor, strong in mind or spirit, confronting danger firmly and exhibiting bravery. Scripture: “[Cornelius] … and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (Acts 10:2 NIV).
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Responsibility of Leadership6/16/2019  Responsibility of Leadership
GOD’S PLAN FOR THE FAMILY Terry R. Baughman “Though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me” (1 Corinthians 4:15–16). There is no leadership instruction like a father’s guidance. Though not always valued he shares wisdom from a heart of love. Others can give instruction, teach courses, or share opinions, but a father speaks from a deep well of passion and with a voice of experience. Of course, there are many different kinds of fathers with varied personalities. Some are more talkative and can be entertaining as they share stories and highlights of past experience. Others are soft spoken and share few words, but what they speak has incredible weight and insight. The important thing is for children to listen and for fathers to teach! Paul observed the condition in the Church of Corinth that they had plenty of instructors and many teachers, but observed that they did not have many fathers. The Apostle became a father to many, not by blood but by the gospel. He mentored young men to pursue godliness and seek a life of ministry. He called upon believers in Corinth to imitate his example. He said, “Imitate me!” How many of us would dare to make such a bold statement! True followers of Christ can live out an example and teach others to follow with the same passion. Actually, it is our responsibility as fathers and as leaders in the church community to provide that kind of leadership and instruction. Andy Stanley said, “Leadership is a stewardship, and we are accountable.” It comes a weighty responsibility to provide leadership for those who will come after us knowing that the future of the church depends on our service, our leadership, and our ability to transfer responsibility to others. Some may feel their position of headship gives them authority to demand respect, and the right to speak abusively to their subordinates, all the while expecting servitude from their subjects. Actually the opposite is true. We have a position of service in our homes; we are servant leaders. Husbands and fathers are entrusted with the greatest treasure, the family. While we are given the position of leadership in the home we also bear the weight of tremendous responsibility. Ultimately, we are accountable to God for how we administrate that responsibility. God’s love toward us as our Heavenly Father gives us the perfect example of how a father should administrate his responsibility. John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV). When we see how God loves us as special children we see an example of how we should strive to love our children and others whom we mentor. We live in a generation where many children do not have a father present in their lives. The church must be a place that can model God’s desire to provide guidance, instruction, and loving mentors to those who have never known a father’s love. This is our responsibility in leadership! Scripture: “[Cornelius] … and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (Acts 10:2 NIV). |
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