Discipleship, Pastor, People Skills, Potential

Seeing Potential in People

No Comments 10 August 2009

Press the arrow to see visually what Jeremiah wrote on paper. It will make today’s devotion about seeing potential come alive.

Scripture
I have made you a tester of metals,
that you may determine the quality of my people. Jeremiah 6:27

Observation
One great gift God can give to a leader is the ability to see the potential in others. This perception is to see people not just as they are but as they could be. It includes an ability to see in them what they cannot see in themselves. And certainly it is the capacity to discern potential before everyone else can spot it.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about the work of an assayer, or tester of metals:

An assayer is a person who tests ores and minerals and analyzes them to determine their composition and value. They may use chemical solutions, and chemical or laboratory equipment, such as furnaces, beakers, graduates, pipettes, and crucibles. An assayer separates metals or other components from dross materials by solution, flotation process, or other liquid processes, or by dry methods, such as application of heat….

That sounds just like the work of a preacher-leader. How does he spot potential in people? By how they respond to God’s word. Jeremiah the prophet was a preacher, and a preacher can see best what is in human hearts. By speaking God’s word and watching the response, a pastor can see whether a person is teachable or not.

The work of a pastor is not just to talk, but to develop the potential of people. That must motivate everything that he does. That is my call today.

Prayer
Father, there is so much potential that swirls around me everyday. Please give me the ability to perceive it and know where it best fits. Amen.

Discipleship, Evangelism, God's Call, Meaning of Life, Ministry, Relationships

Bait that Catches Fishermen

No Comments 17 April 2008

Press the arrow to listen to Casting Crowns sing Love Them Like Jesus while you read today’s devotion.

Scripture
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. Matthew 4:19-20

Observation
What kind of bait will catch fishermen? With one sentence, Jesus managed to persuade small businessmen to shut up shop and trek with him. What kind of lure did he pull from his vest?

Jesus didn’t use the fly we’d expect. Something along the line of “follow-me-and-I’ll-make-you-the-best-you-that-you-can-be” I think would be very appealing. However, Jesus did not use any self-development pitch. He pulled a surprise from his fishin’ bag.

Jesus offered the disciples the secret of changing others. That was all it took; they were hooked. I’m left staggered by the simplicity and selflessness of the call of Jesus. The call to follow Christ isn’t about me, it’s about changing others through my life. Of course, I will be changed in the process, but improving my life is not what discipleship is about. The heart of discipling is to make a difference in the life of another human being for all eternity. If that doesn’t appeal to me, then I’m not worthy of Christ, yet why wouldn’t it be attractive?

Application
If I were to offer to the public an indelible writing surface, on which any message could be etched to endure for ages, many would be interested.
It would not weather like the Sphinx,
or burn like the library books of Alexandria,
or topple like tombstones,
or fade like pencil,
or bleed like ink,
or crash like a computer,
or erase like a memory stick,
or crack like a CD.
No graffiti artist can obscure it,
nor army can bomb it,
nor flood, storm or fire can remove its memory forever.
Whatever is written on this surface will make an author’s words immortal.

Where is a permanent surface like this to be found? It is on the human heart, of course. Any word spoken for Christ and received by a child of God will last forever. Any change in a human life for Christ will be taken to heaven for eternity. This is why becoming a follower of Christ is so alluring, for only Christ-followers can do works that last forever.

Prayer
Father, this sounds like a very good deal. I’ll follow you Jesus into to crowd; let’s get going. Amen.


I'm Phil McCallum, a husband, father and most of all one of the people Jesus loves. I'm privileged to serve Evergreen Community Church in Bothell, Washington as Senior Pastor where people love enough to believe "it's all about relationships." In 1982 I made a vow to read God's word daily and apply it to life. Each day I write out my reflections. Some days I post those on my blog. It's a little personal but it's my hope it will stir you to go deeper still. Learn how I do my devotions. These are my thoughts and not necessarily those of the ministry I serve. By the way check out the computer study Bible Glo. I highly recommend it.

© 2012 Deeper Still by phil mccallum. Powered by Wordpress.

Daily Edition Theme by WooThemes - Premium Wordpress Themes