Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong Church while reading today’s devotion about Timothy.

Scripture
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him…. Acts 16:1-3

Observation
If Timothy was like any Tim of today, he would have had interests at home. He probably had a job. He may have had a girl friend or was sweet on some girl. He was obviously close to his mother. And he loved his local church. But Timothy willingly waved this all goodbye to follow Paul wherever he went.

What happened next in his life story is even more remarkable. Timothy disappeared off of the Bible page. It would be better to say that he fell between the lines. Timothy was present in the story but is never mentioned. We can only imagine that he did everything from washing clothes to stitching tents and getting dinner ready.

There are not many young men with ambition willing to be submerged in God’s purposes. But Timothy was willing to disappear. He would later bob to the surface of the Bible story when he was needed to do some leadership work. But that happened only because he was content to do the mundane things.

Application
I’m sitting today with a man who is a real life Timothy, Lance Coles who is journaling with me. He could have succeeded in any business he had desired to begin, but instead he chose to dissolve himself as a young intern fresh out of college in a church plant in Colorado Springs meeting in a basement. Twenty years later that church numbers over 10,000. Just as there are traces of Timothy throughout the pages of the Bible, so there is part of Lance everywhere. Where are the Timothy’s today who are ready to leave ambitions aside until God grants them to devote themselves for ministry preparation? They are few indeed, but choice men. I pray God leads more of them into my influence.

Prayer
Father, help me to be the Paul you need me to be to the Timothy’s you surround me with. Give to your church young men with a heart not to achieve but to be developed as true sons of the ministry, a sonship shown not by blood in the veins but by bloodstains from faithful service. Amen.

Press the arrow to listen to Brandon Heath sing “Give Me Your Eyes” while reading today’s devotion about potential.

Scripture
Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. Matthew 17:1-2

Observation
Only once while Jesus was on earth did he “light up” like he did back home in heaven. Getting a glimpse of Jesus’ glory on earth was even more of an event than the 76-year-long wait for Haley’s Comet. One would think that Jesus would be choosey with the audience for such an event. After all, he didn’t even let anyone watch the resurrection, who would he have around for the Transfiguration? There was not a caesar, king, or high priest allowed in. Instead, Jesus selected three blockheads known for dropping clangers to witness the most remarkable event this side of heaven.

Why?

My thoughts exactly. Peter, James and John were clods, selected not because of what others could see, but because of what Jesus could see. He saw the potential in them that no one else could see. This trio would go on to lead the early church and write chunks of the Bible. Peter would see tongues of fire and John would see Jesus lit up again along with all of heaven. James would get to go home early and enjoy it before the other two.

Application
To lead like Jesus, we need to see potential in young leaders early on before others can see it and give them access to privileges they do not deserve. When I was 20 years old I got to have lunch with John Maxwell. I thought I had all of the answers and I was too dumb to know any questions to ask. From a strategic point of view, it was a wasted hour for him. But I will never forget him taking time for me or the things I heard him speak that day. For the next five years, he became the model for much of what I did and helped me immensely. I want to be a leader who believes in future leaders before others can see them or they can see it in themselves. I want to be the gate so that young leaders can get a front row seat into spectacles of heaven. Waste the whole light show on those who don’t deserve a ticket must be my mandate. And out of Peter, James and John will come the leaders of tomorrow’s church.

Prayer
Father, please develop my ability to develop others. Show me more and more how to develop them. Amen.

Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. Read more of their story.

Scripture

“I have singled [Abraham] out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.” Genesis 18:19

“So Lot rushed out to tell his daughter’s fiances, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.” Genesis 19:14

Observation

I am journaling today with a friend. He opened his journal and pulled from it a card written by his son. It was a moving tribute to a man who has invested not just time camping, hunting, and fishing with his son but also given him the indelible example of a man of God. Of all of his life possessions I would suspect that card would be one of his most valued, for what greater thing can a man leave behind him than a son to follow the Lord as he has?

Abraham’s name is a household word today not for the great pyramids he built or the wealth he had. He is etched into history because of the son he raised to fear the Lord. All history has been changed through that one boy. Abraham was “singled out” to direct his son. Fathering was not to be a passive thing to leave his boy to stumble into life to make it up anyway that he liked. Abraham was to take authority to make the fear of God grow deep in his son’s heart. God has given fathers authority that is often pushed aside as dad picks up the remote and flicks through the channels. A dad’s authority is time, attention, corrective words, and powerful example. When used well fathering makes an eternal difference.

Lot’s name, however, is not a household word today. We remember only his wife who couldn’t let go of the good life to follow after God and became a statue in the desert. When the moment of emergency decision came, the sons-in-law in his household only laughed at Lot. Were they used to the old man joking around about everything in life? Was Lot a man who was afraid to be serious about the significant? Obviously so. Lot could not marshall his family out the front door in a time of disaster, so poor was his leadership at home. His story ends dismally with more compromise, drunkenness and incest.

Application

God has given to me a responsibility for my sons to get them started in the groove God has for their lives. Like an old vinyl record, there is a track God has chosen for them. My job is to place the needle in the right place so that their life-song can play for the Lord. I can’t be afraid of that responsibility. Fun is important in my home, but if my sons are to amount to anything they need to know what is worth being serious about.

Prayer Father, make me a better dad today. Amen.