Press the arrow to listen to Matthew West sing “The Motions” as you read today’s devotion about personal progress.

Scripture
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 2 John 1:8

Observation
Who invented the grocery store? Ever hear of the A&P? My mom used to shop in one of their small downtown stores with the rooster weathervane on the top. The A&P by the 1930′s was America’s leading grocery store chain, boasting 16,000 stores and $1 billion in revenue annually. Today they have a mere 447 stores and have fallen to number 21. What went wrong? The formula that made them successful killed their success. Their method was to build tidy stores on the edge of downtown. It worked until the supermarket came along. Instead of building bigger stores in the suburbs, A&P kept with the plan and lost all they had achieved.

Success is not stable it is a growing thing. A plant may be perfect one day, but let watering lapse and soon it will be dead. What we have achieved in life is transient. We can lose everything not just by doing nothing but by doing what we’ve always done. It is the choice not to improve that can cost us dearly. The rules that made us successful can be our downfall if we don’t adapt.

Application
My goal in life must be not a great middle but a great ending. There is no place for coasting. It is time to live with the perspective of a start up company no matter how old I may grow. In this little book of 2 John, John is protecting the church from false doctrine not by teaching theology, but by reminding them to really love each other. If there is anything I need to excel at it must be that. I must love extravagantly, even those who do not reciprocate.

Prayer
Father, reinvent me today so that I do not lose what you have given to me. Do not make me something different, instead take me back to the basics of love. Reinvent me backwards to the core of who you have made me to be. Amen.

Listen to worship music while you read today’s entry.

Newsboys He Reigns

Scripture
Joshua himself spent that night in the valley. Joshua 8:13

Observation
Delegating responsibility is not always a leader’s best choice. Sometimes he must be personally involved.

Joshua tried delegating his duty to lead Israel when he sent out a small force to conquer a tiny town. Sometimes delegation works, but not always as Joshua learned. The men failed in their duty because somewhere along the line the values sagged. Achan was able to sneak off with his stash because whoever was in command did not make consequences clear enough. The value of full devotion crumbled.

So the second battle of Ai was not delegated. Joshua himself slept with the troops and the next day held his sword long and sharp to win the battle.

When should a leader not delegate? When values are at stake. I see the silhouette of Joshua, with fierce eyes, gleaming sword and the swirl of soldiers around him. His determined gaze would have affected the entire army. The values of any ministry are most concentrated in the heart of the leader. He must be personally involved at times to ensure that those values are absorbed throughout the entire team.

Application
Leadership is never done by remote control. Leaders must lead. What a leader wants in his team he must first have in himself. What he wants to see in others must first be part of him. Leadership is all about getting hands dirty. That’s still my call.

Prayer
Father, help me not to hide in the office but camp in the fields. Amen.

Worship as you read this devotion by pressing the arrow.
Song: Delirious Miracle Maker

Scripture
Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”
“Seven loaves,” they replied.
So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. Mark 8:5-6

Observation
The “Feeding of the 5,000″ story is repeated in all four gospels. There is a reason why. The “Feeding of the 4,000″ is like an instant replay in slow motion of the first miracle. There is a reason for that as well. If God repeats something twice there is something important he is teaching; if that lesson is written multiple times then it must be very important for us today.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to us? Simple: the way Jesus met this need is how we are to sustain every ministry we do. Jesus was not intimidated by the need or nervous about resources, instead he moved in purposeful, slow motion making clear-headed decisions that led to miraculous provision. When I read this story, what stands out to me is the panic of the disciples contrasted with the serene stability of Jesus. They were looking at the bottom of the bag while Jesus perceived the edges of heaven.

Application
Just hours later the disciples flew into another flap about not having enough groceries with them. Jesus repeated the lesson a third time (which means to really, really listen) then added, “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus wants anyone in ministry to understand this as well. Ministry to people, especially large numbers of people, will always take a leader beyond his ability to supply. A pastor is given a father’s heart, yet he is taking care of God’s family, which has too many hungry mouths. Just as Jesus couldn’t pay the lunch bill, so over and over again in ministry we will be taken far beyond our ability to supply. What are we to do? Jesus modeled for us actions that said in effect: if I am a servant, then this is God’s problem. Jesus did what practically could be done and lifted his eyes to heaven and gave the difficulty to the Father. There is the example for us to follow. Whatever the need, the problem is not ours, it is God’s. Faith is not shown by a worried brow or flexing jaws, but in a simply doing what next needs to be done and expecting God to do the rest. Just keep walking forward with one good decision after another and see where God takes you.

Prayer
Father, you are our Provider, but so often we act as if you are not. Help me never to see an organization, an institution, a person, a paycheck or any other thing to be my sustenance. That is far too limited. Instead, let me like Jesus learn the relaxed upward gaze in front of a hungry crowd. Let me not get stage fright when it comes my time to walk in serene trust. Amen.

Scripture
That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” Acts 16:9

Observation
The man in the vision from Macedonia was I think the man Paul met in the prison basement after the earthquake. Paul’s first convert in Europe was a woman, he was chased by a clairvoyant through the streets and he was beaten with rods. After the earthquake the vision was fulfilled.

It was quite a sight to see a prison warden on his knees begging a prisoner for help. Paul surely must have realized then that his prophecy was fulfilled.

Paul was the answer to the unspoken prayers of an unsaved man. Before the jailer was converted, his sighs were translated into prayers answered by God in Paul’s vision. Could it be that some of our steps are guided by the prayers of those who do not yet know the Lord?

Application
Paul was the answer to the prayer of an unsaved man; may my life be the answer to the unspoken desires of those searching for what they know not for. As I heard years ago, there are people without Christ waiting for me to say ‘yes’ to God.

Prayer
Father, make the the answer to someone’s prayer today. Amen.