Press the arrow to listen to Kari Jobe sing “Pure” while reading today’s devotion.

Scripture
He said to him, “I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water ‘” But he lied to him. 1 Kings 13:18

Observation
The old prophet heard of a young prophet preaching in his territory, and he was threatened. So he invited the young prophet to his home for dinner. It would be a long and leisurely conversation with the aim of slowing the young man down.

The king had not heard the word of the Lord, because the old prophet had not spoken. So God sent in someone from the outside to speak. The old prophet was so accustomed to mixing his words with God’s word that it was not trouble for him to tell the young novice truth as lie. The result for the young prophet was tragic. He became a one sermon wonder.

One of the traps awaiting a young leader is an old leader whose life has been filled with compromise. Iron may sharpen iron, but dead wood only dulls.  The old man’s half-heartedness cost the young man his life.

Application
Not all leaders weather well. I remember once being invited by an old pastor with whitened hair to preach on Sunday and to share lunch with his wife that afternoon. While we prayed together before the service, I kept having the thought the man was an adulterer. I shook off the thought thinking, “But he’s a kindly old man with decades of fruitful service.” Over lunch he sighed and said, “Ministry is necessary only because of the fall of Adam. Were it not for him, every man would be a priest of his own home. But because of his fall I must take care of the families of others.” I was young but disturbed. Something seemed askew in what he said.  I wasn’t in ministry because of failure but with hope of success. I made a note to myself that I did not want to become pessimistic about ministry like him when I grew old. A year later the city paper paraded the old preacher’s story; not only was he an adulterer, but one twice over with two mistresses. He was trying to slow me down to his pace to comfort his own compromise.

There are half-hearted men along life’s way who are threatened by whole-hearted devotion to Christ. A young leader must learn to keep on walking to where God has him next to be. There are reasons why God gives commands, even when they are odd enough to cause us to walk home without dinner. If that young man had gone home hungry, God might have filled him with a message that could have become the 40th book of the Old Testament.

Prayer
Father, help me to deflect the discouragement of cynical leaders who have let their failures become their high water marks. Keep me walking on. Amen.

Press the arrow to listen to the Newsboys sing In Christ Alone as you read today’s devotion.

Scripture
You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us. 2 Corinthians 2:17

Observation

When a young leader is first called by God to be a preacher life is so simple. He is young, idealistic and and best of all poor. It is always easier to give Jesus everything when a preacher is wearing blue jeans with empty pockets. Mortgages and family make life complicated. The more that is added the fuzzier the whys of ministry can become.

Paul used an ugly word for some preachers: huckster. That barbed-wire epithet conjures up images of something between a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman and a side show hustler at the carnival. It’s an unpleasant word used for shock effect. Paul wanted leaders to run from the misuse of ministry straight into the arms of Christ.

To pastors whose lives have become complicated and whose motives have compromised, Paul reminds us that the goal of preaching is sincerity and authority. Sincerity comes from the Latin, meaning “without wax.” If a corrupt potter wanted to sell cracked pots, wax would be mixed with the appropriate color and the fissure would be filed. Honest potters stamped their pots with the word sine cere to attest that no wax had been used. Preaching gets its sincerity from a person solidly about Christ. Authority is speaking only what is spoken to him and not what he has conjured up on his own.

Application
How does a pastor get sincerity, authority and flee from the sleazy images of manipulation? By speaking every word with the awareness that God is listening. That simple fact clarifies every motive. Meeting the Lord at the end of life and giving account for every idle word spoken, is unavoidable. But the daily awareness of God’s eavesdropping is a personal choice. If I live with a consciousness of God’s constant inspection of me every word I speak will be attached to right motives.

Prayer
Father, I want this sincerity and authority, so open my eyes today to your listening presence. Amen.

Scripture
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.” Revelation 11:3

Observation
Why are we told the story of two prophets in Revelation? It is a prophecy about the future, but the story tells us just as much about the present. These two men are role models for us today.

The Greek word for “witness” is a painful one. The word is martus, from which comes the English word “martyr”. That word has come to mean the ultimate witness of someone giving life to back up their words. But the word “martyr” originally meant to speak words to die for every day. The ultimate act of martyrdom is only the result of living a martyr’s life.

When we rightly understand the meaning of this word “witness” we discover that it is a call to live the daily life of one who does not flinch from death but speaks the words that must be spoken. God is speaking and not all that he has to say is easy to hear. We are the ones called to speak. If we hold onto life, our reputation, our credibility, our possessions, then we will not be willing to speak the costly words of God. But if we will let go of our life day by day and speak what must be said then we are worthy of the word “witness.”

Application
“And you will be my witnesses.” Jesus said that. “Witness” is just another word for a Christian. Jesus has changed our lives and we have a story to tell. But that word is deeply moored in sacrifice of daily martyrdom as we choose not to be afraid of losing life. A martyr has come to mean to us a dead person. But that is not the intention of God for the word “witness”. The Lord is seeking living martyrs for him. That is my call.

Prayer
Father, the image of these men dressed in burlap in a world of microfiber is jarring enough. That they were called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice is harder. But their role as martyrs would have any application to me is a new thought to grapple with. Grant me the courage to speak what needs to be said when I would rather not. Help me to gain courage from them and others like them to live a martyr’s life even though I may never die a martyr’s death. Amen.

Scripture
I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. So run to win! I run with purpose in every step. 1 Corinthians 9:16, 17, 24, 26

Observation
I remember as a kid marching with my dad through snow choked fields. Dad’s stride was measured with a yard stick and mine with a ruler. I tried so hard to keep up with his footsteps.

Reading this passage feels very much the same. Paul the super apostle has left a wide stride in history for us to follow. One step of Paul takes at least two of mine. But I want to know his secret.

Paul’s success is found in this: he was running scared. God was on his tail so he kept pushing the message forward. We could dress this up and talk about the appeal of ministry, but Paul doesn’t. God’s call left him shaking in his boots. What terrified him was not God’s anger rather God’s kindness. God had trusted him and he would never betray the Lord’s trust.

Paul ran in order to win. On a sidewalk of shuffling pedestrians, Paul was sprinting for the finish line. Paul put purpose in every step. He never diddled around. He thought through every forward step like a rock climber and made them count.

Application
Today I will put purpose into every step. I am ready to run. God has given me a push and my purpose is to keep pace with God’s purpose for my life.

Prayer
Father, I want to keep up with Jesus’ plan for me. I’m ready to run. Amen.