Devotional/Discussion thought of the day:

As I am sitting in the kitchen, at the end of my devotions, watching an elder cook breakfast,  I am reviewing my study that I will share this day.

The theme of the retreat is the calming peace God brings to our lives in love.  Great stuff so far, but today it “comes home”  FOr I am going to take that passage and apply it to our leadership style.  Which is peaceful and calming because it is opposite  of our style in life.

Here are the passages we are using:

^5:1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: ² Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. ³ Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.   1 Peter 5:1-3 (NLT)

^20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:28 (NKJV)

^2:27 Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Mark 2:27-28 (NLT)

In the church, leadership flows from Christ, it is sacrificial  it endures, with the same joy that Christ had set before Him, and endures crosses and suffers even, that those we are responsible for, know His love, that they are calmed by it, as we bring them into His presence (or perhaps better said, we reveal that they are in His presence)

That is challenging – for leadership in the church is messy, and demanding, and sometimes the people we serve are demanding, yet unsure of what they need, and anxiety laden to get it.  Sometimes in order to come alongside them (to be a paraclete) we have to endure their pain with them.  And sometimes – we have to get used to being discomforted, challenged, and we have to sacrifice our preferences because of the needs of those who need Jesus.

For that is our call – to be conduits of grace, not to block the transmission of it because of our own idolatry, because of our own narcissism.

We can’t let the sabbath dominate the people, as Jewish leaders did.  We can’t let the way we twist the law oppress them, and the rules we set to make governing it easier.  (it’s funny that my elders are now arguing over whose in charge in the kitchen, somewhat appropriate… oh wait, now to deal with gossip…sigh)

But that is the point of leadership – we need to serve – not command,  We need to be responsible, not authoritarian.

We need to be like Christ, and as we do, we find His glory, His peace, His love… just in the moment we need to reflect it.

Lord have mercy on your servants….. and help us serve as You did, for the joy set before us!  AMEN!