Jesus said “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). He is saying that following His success will make you someone that others want to follow. Men will be caught by your posture, words, peace, and authority in the midst of challenges. That is true leadership!
Paul had an interesting view of himself. He thought of himself as a man who had died and awakened to a second chance at life. He considered himself a dead man, yet still breathing. Dead men do not get offended at other men. Dead men do not scream back when they are screamed at. Dead men can be poked, kicked, mocked, and spit upon, and they still do not respond. The devil and his followers have no weapons when Christians do not respond in fear to their evil threats and actions.
God gave each of us an important job, regardless of whether you are a janitor or a Fortune 500 executive. He gave the stay-at-home mom and the preacher the same honor of using His name to go to the world!
You decide the source of life that is put in you. It is not your government, family, culture, color or age that decides what you say and believe and see in your life. Let that which comes from you be life to others!
God created us for dignity and with a purpose! He created us to know His love and goodness through our relationship with Him, and to take that love and goodness out into the world with us and share it with others. How do we do that? “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give”! (Matthew 10:8)
Do you recognize the importance of your dreams? Many dismiss their dreams because they dismiss themselves. Don’t let life, people, failure, or your present condition keep you from the seed of a dream in your heart!
Your life can be summed up by what you know, and what you do with what you know. What you know is your faith, and what you do with what you know is your ministry.
The record we have of Jesus is just the beginning of His work. You are the continuation. The gospel according to your life can be the story of Jesus working in the 21st century!
The Gospel comes in two forms: words and actions. I recall what Henry Ford, the great auto industrialist, said to the preacher after one Sunday morning at church. “Preacher, that was a great message, but if you worked for me I’d fire you.” “Why??” the preacher asked. Ford replied, “You prepared us all for action, but left us with nothing to do.”
When I walk out the airplane door and onto the airport runway to face a crowd of people who have been waiting, planning, and expecting good things from my visit, I am the embodiment of hope for that nation.
I am not concerned about how many witch doctors have planned to put curses on me. I am not concerned about how many news articles the religious hierarchy may have paid for to give negative press to our coming.
Rather, I posture my thoughts to be a blessing. I consider the great prophecies that have gone before us concerning the day that we live in. I consider the great promises that Jesus has spoken concerning those who go in His Name. I consider the great need of hurting humanity and the goods news that God has paid the price to meet that need.
These are the things that inspire me as I consider traveling thousands of miles to stand in front of the lost, sick, poverty stricken and fearful society of a nation. The living church is the cure for the world and the world is the cause for the church!
Do the same as you walk out your door this morning!
