Turner Family Vision Statement

 We are a Family that...

Puts God first in our lives. This is demonstrated by the respect we show for God, others, and ourselves. We realize that people are more important than things.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

...realizes our tongues are powerful and should be used for good. We will NOT complain, but always strive to speak kindly and softly. When other speak, we listen carefully.

“Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things, behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth.”

James 3:5

...works together and plays together. We are willing to help each other through working hard.

“If any would not work, neither shall he eat.”

II Thessalonians 3:10

...has integrity. We do the right thing when no one is looking. We see things that need to be done and do them without being asked.

“Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

I Timothy 4:12

...is grateful and thankful to God for His blessings upon us, and most importantly for the gift of salvation.

“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.”

II Corinthians 9:15

...is willing to help others and show the love of God by loving others as ourselves. We do this by sharing the love of Christ, praying for each other and those outside our family, and by reaching out to those in need.

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”

Romans 1:16

Leadership is More Than Asserting Dominance

 

Daily Reading: Daniel 4:1-37

In Daniel 4:1-37, we find the powerful story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling dream. The mighty king, who had once ruled with unparalleled authority, is warned by God through a dream about his impending fall. The dream of a great tree being cut down signifies the loss of his power and prestige due to his pride. The king’s heart was lifted up like many men who find themselves in seats of power and authority or assumed seats of power and authority. Sometimes those seats come with titles like husband, dad, boss, manager, supervisor, or even pastor or elder. Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance led to his downfall, showing us that true manhood is not about power, dominance, or self-sufficiency, but about humility and submission to God.

Nebuchadnezzar's pride reminds us of the temptation to elevate ourselves. In our own walk, we may think we can handle everything by exerting our power and authority in our careers, our families, or our ambitions but without acknowledging God’s sovereignty and authority we are setting ourselves up for failure. True strength in manhood is found in humility, recognizing that without God, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Paul writes to the Corinthians, saying, "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" (1 Corinthians4:7). This echoes the warning from Nebuchadnezzar's fall—everything we have comes from God. When we begin to believe that our accomplishments are solely our own, we risk forgetting the source of all that is good in our lives.

Manhood, and more specifically leadership, according to Scripture, is about more than asserting dominance. It is about leading with a servant’s heart, humbling ourselves before God, and acknowledging that all we are and all we have are because of Him. May we, like Nebuchadnezzar after his repentance, recognize that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 4:17). May we, like Nebuchadnezzar, "praise and extol and honour the King of heaven." (Daniel 4:37) because "those that walk in pride he is able to abase" (Daniel 4:37). We must surrender our lives to Him in true humility.

How can you cultivate a spirit of humility in your leadership and everyday life?

Thinking of Ourselves Less

 

Daily Reading:  Philippians 2 verses 1-11

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."

                                                            Philippians 2:5-7

God calls you and I through the pen of the Apostle Paul to replace our “mind”, our thinking with the mind of Christ. It is Christ who exemplified humility by leaving heaven above to becoming a servant. The Creator came to serve the created.  Though Jesus Christ was fully God and remained fully God, He willingly humbled Himself to serve humanity as a man. That humility culminated with His sacrificed life on the cross. His humility and ultimate death weren’t weakness but an expression of perfect strength in submission to God’s will.

For us, following Christ means letting go of pride, position, and self-importance. We often spend our days striving for recognition self-adulation, and positions of power or authority. We seek to elevate ourselves above others, but the path of Christ described in Philippians 2 was downward—to serve rather than to be served. As we reflect on the humility of Christ, we should ask ourselves how we can adopt this mindset in our daily lives. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.

Questions:

1. In what areas of your life are you tempted to seek recognition or status instead of serving others?
2. How can you adopt the servant attitude of Christ in your interactions with those around you?

Leaders Understand the Times

 

Daily Reading:  I Chronicles 12

“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do;”

                                                                                                I Chronicles 12:32

             Pause and consider the groups of men that are mentioned in this chapter. Many capable men are listed. Some possess unique skills that are important and will be necessary for the nation of Israel going forward. However, men with skills and abilities need direction. Otherwise, those skills and abilities often get redirected to activities that have little to no impact. They get diverted to hobbies and personal endeavors or worse yet, those skills and abilities are set aside as men settle into passivity.

In 1 Chronicles 12:32, we learn about the men of Issachar, who "had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." This verse speaks to the essence of effective leadership: the ability to discern the present moment and respond wisely. As men lead, it is imperative that we cultivate a deep understanding of the times in which we live.  Men with skills and abilities are waiting, whether they realize it or not, for someone who knows what needs to be done. 

Understanding the times involves awareness of both societal trends and spiritual conditions. These two areas are NOT detached from one another. To gain this insight, we can take several practical steps:

1. Engage in Continuous Learning: Stay informed about local and global issues through reading, listening to podcasts, or watching documentaries. Understanding current events enables us to address the needs of our communities effectively, but from a biblical foundation.
2. Pray for Wisdom: Make prayer a priority. (I Thessalonians 5:17) Ask God for insight into how these issues relate to His Word and how we can respond with grace and truth.
3. Connect with Others: Surround yourself with wise counsel (Proverbs 27:17). Engaging in conversations with mentors and peers can provide new perspectives and strengthen our understanding of the times.
4. Reflect on Scripture: Regularly and systematically study the Bible    (II Timothy 2:15), studying through passages that speak to current situations. Scripture is timeless and can offer guidance for navigating today’s challenges.

As leaders, our responsibility extends beyond understanding; we must also act decisively. Reflecting on our role, we should consider:

• What specific challenges in our home, community, and world require our leadership and action?
• How can we model biblical principles in our responses to these challenges?

By contemplating these questions, we position ourselves to lead effectively, grounded in the wisdom of God’s Word. May we be like the men of Issachar, equipped to lead with understanding in a complex world.

Contentment is Key

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 3:23 – 30

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

                                             Philippians 4:11

               For Shadrach, Meshech, and Abed-nego everything worked out perfectly in their showdown with Nebuchadnezzar when they defied his draconian rule. Not only did they survive the fiery furnace completely unscathed, but their actions served as a powerful testimony to the king which caused him to recognize their faithfulness and more importantly their God. In the end, they even came out ahead by securing a promotion in Babylon.

               The lesson to learn from these young men is not, “obey God and everything will work out perfectly”. Even they knew that was not the case. They had told Nebuchadnezzar God may or may not deliver them back in verses 17 and 18. God never promises us deliverance either and He certainly does not promise deliverance based on our performance although that is a delusion often pedaled in the name of Christianity. In truth, Romans 8:35 -39 teaches us that no matter what happens to us in this life, we already have the victory because nothing can separate us from God’s love found in Christ!

               In these men’s lives we can learn a lesson on the far-reaching effects of contentment. It was contentment that first affected them personally. They were perfectly content to entrust God with their life…or death.  It was out of their contentment that faithfulness was born in them. Their faithfulness would lead them to stand in boldness.  The boldness, born out of faithfulness, born out of contentment impacted all who witnessed it. Everyone saw that God was with them.  Ungodly men saw God at work in the details. Those ungodly witnesses recognized God! Even the ungodly cannot deny the truth all the time. In the end, the contentment of three men would have a dramatic impact on an entire culture. 

Your testimony, which should display contentment in Christ, will have an effect on yourself and others. None of us knows the impact our testimony will have and whose lives will be most affected, but let’s find out!      

 

Unhinged Man

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 3:19 – 23

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

                                    Psalm 2:1

            The world never understands a man fully surrendered to God.  Sadly, often the church does not understand that man either.  At times even a man’s family falls into this same category. Paul reminds us in II Timothy 3:12, "Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” We are not always prepared for where the persecution will come from. It will come from friend and foe alike in varying degrees of hostility.

            Nebuchadnezzar’s hostility manifested as sheer rage. The unwavering faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego infuriated Nebuchadnezzar. His ultimatum had been clear…bow or burn, and in that moment, these men of God did not even flinch. Their faithfulness exposed the limited power and unlimited pride of the king. His pride could not handle their defiance.

            Blinded by his rage, he began making unrealistic and unreasonable demands.  Seemingly unable to stop him, or maybe sharing his rage, men obeyed and heated the furnace seven times hotter than it was built to withstand. Scripture tells us pride goes before a fall. These men were baking in their own destruction, and they never saw it coming until it was too late!  Nebuchadnezzar’s wants and desires, driven by fury, and coupled with a seat of power destroyed the men around him…those closest to him.

When a man fully surrendered to God is forced to confront men in power who are not, the friction and pressure will most certainly produce heat. Just as the fire did not consume these three men, neither will our trials consume us! Let us be men who have the strength of our convictions when we face the pressure to bow to culture, temptation, fear, or anything that stands against the uncompromising authority of Scripture.

The Man Who Stands

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 3:13 - 18

…Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

                                                                           Acts 4:19

               Make no mistake, men in power despise defiance by men who simply do not fall in line. They spurn those who would dare to stand up, to speak up, to speak out, or to ask questions.  They hold in contempt any man who would dare to take a stand. That contempt will manifest itself in various ways.  They will attempt character assassination, painting you as the problem or aggressor while they play the martyr.  They might force you out. They might lie to or about you. They may yell, scream, and create a scene in front of others. All are viable options for weak men to appear strong. That last method is the approach Nebuchadnezzar chose.

               The King was enraged by this betrayal of men under his power and demanded the offenders appear before him for questioning. This is an oft repeated process.  A man takes a stand. Leadership is offended.  A meeting is called to rehearse what they have heard and to execute severe punishment to ensure that no one would ever be so foolish as to stand up again. It is the way of the institution to retain power and control.  Have you ever witnessed this in the workplace or in politics? Has anyone ever heard of the Diet of Worms?  Whether you agree with the details of that event is irrelevant.  The pattern is clear and repeated throughout history. We should never be surprised when history repeats itself.

               What happens next in these moments is not about character, but about whether or not a man understands his identity?  So often in these moments, men back down.  They decide it is in their best interests or in the best interest of those they love to back down.  They decide the juice is not worth the squeeze, so they just sit down, shut up, and seek to be left alone. Sadly, this action will just embolden the institution against which the stand was taken. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood with boldness, knowing their lives were on the line and began by telling the king, “…we are not careful to answer thee in this matter”. They understood fully whom they served faithfully and did not concern themselves with the details.

               The world and sadly, in many instances, the church will never understand godly men and will continuously seek to break their will, but the church and the world need godly men.  Men who know their identity in Christ and therefore stand up, speak out, and ask questions. Be that man!

                

Have You Been Tamed?

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 3:8 – 12

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.

                                             I Peter 1:14

               As a man of God, we must recognize that the world is continuously seeking our compliance to their standard rather than God’s. When we refuse, hostilities will ensue. It will never be a question of if, but when. We will face envy, accusations, and persecution. All these tactics serve to break us down until we fall in line. There is a great price to pay for firm resolve!

               Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the fires of envy, accusations, and persecution before they ultimately faced the fires of the furnace. The attack was triggered because they refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue.  They had not made a scene and were not outspoken about their refusal. They simply refused to bow.  In a society where everyone submitted to the yoke of the world they stood out.  When the misstep was observed, the Chaldean’s resorted to accusations.  The Hebrew word translated accused in Daniel 3:8 is made up of two pictographs or symbols.  The first pictograph is a bent palm and represents the subduing of the will. The other symbol is a shepherd’s hook and signifies a yoke. Together, they imply, “tame for the yoke”.  What a snapshot of the way the world operates.  An unwavering goal of the world is to subdue all men until they are, “tame for the yoke.”

               To distance themselves further from men who had quite literally taken a stand, the accusers lavish praise at the feet of Nebuchadnezzar before reminding him of the exact wording of his decree by which all are bound.  We should never be surprised when the minions of the spirit of the age use the letter of the law to come after men who simply refuse to conform because they have chosen a higher standard. The universal standard of the world is comply or else.

               In our lives, we will face daily decisions where we must display firm resolve while the world seeks to subdue us.  In those moments of decision, we must remember that our strength and identity are found in Him alone and never in how the world sees us or defines us! We should also remember that the envy, accusations, and persecutions are a testament to the work of God in our lives.  We are no longer, “fashioning ourselves according to the former lusts” and the world has taken notice.

How to Destroy What is Good

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 3:1 – 7

Pride Goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

                                                Proverbs 16:18

            The Colossus of Rhodes is considered one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.  It was built of bronze and towered 108 feet over the Harbor of Rhodes, serving as a tribute to the sun god Helios for a battle won.  For perspective, Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in Daniel 3 rose 90 feet over the plain of Dura (18 feet shorter), but it was built of gold! The shimmering statue could be seen for miles in all directions across the province of Babylon.

What would drive a man to seek such self-adulation? Several matters working in combination in Nebuchadnezzar’s life compelled him to erect a massive gold statue of himself; time and pride. Time has to be accounted for in his decision.  Daniel had told and interpreted his dream for him; a dream that contained a statue made of multiple elements and ultimately told of the king’s demise. Time marched on and Nebuchadnezzar would ultimately push back on the narrative of the dream by building and displaying his statue of gold to which he demanded worship.  It was sending a message to everyone of just how powerful and important he was. Time had dulled his memory to the absolute truth of his dream.

Left unchecked, time and pride are a devastatingly destructive combination.  These two elements, in the life of any man destroy everything they touch; family, relationships, work, character, and testimony. The subtlety of this combination is that man is seduced into believing it won’t happen to him.

Our options could not stand in starker contrast.  We either choose to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), or we choose a path of pride. One path leads to honor and glory for God and looks out for the interests of others (Colossians 3:12 –14).  The other path brings dishonor to God and is a destructive force we cannot contain (Proverbs 16:18).  Choose wisely, for time will tell.

Balls and Strikes

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 2:31 – 49

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings…

                                                            Daniel 2:47

               Daniel’s life was not ideal by any measure.  He was living as a free man in Jerusalem when he watched the city fall. After the fall, he was captured and taken to Babylon.  There he was recognized for his learning, wisdom, and understanding, only to face execution with the rest of the wise men.  Following the telling and interpretation of the king’s dream, the king, who had ordered his execution, withdrew the order, and set him up as a ruler over the entire province of Babylon. The pendulum swings of Daniel’s life were wild and would continue, but we would do well to take stock of the circumstances surrounding this shift from nearly executed to ruler.

               Daniel was a man who sought to obey God no matter the fallout.  To the world around him, his obedience manifested as boldness.  He was willing to say and do what many would not. Boldness is not a natural attitude most men are born with.  The Apostle Paul was a zealous man, but even he prayed for boldness (Ephesians 6:19 – 20). Most men flee from boldness and settle for passivity like Adam in the garden.

               Daniel faced execution but asked for time to pray and wait on God.  After receiving an answer to his prayer, the path forward did not get easier.  The dream and interpretation were not exactly what King Nebuchadnezzar would want to hear. Nevertheless, Daniel boldly stands before him and informs him God had given him his kingdom (Daniel 2:37). This is significant because Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan god king had captured Jerusalem where God’s Temple sat.  It would not appear to Nebuchadnezzar like Daniel’s God had the power to give him his kingdom.  Daniel then informs the king that his kingdom would be replaced by an inferior kingdom (Daniel 2:39).  If that is not bad enough, Daniel finally tells the king that God will establish an eternal kingdom and that this all will happen with certainty (Daniel 2:44 – 45).

               This dream and interpretation had to be unsettling for the most powerful man in the world, but Daniel spoke to him with boldness.  He stood there and called balls and strikes with his life on the line. In the end, Daniel’s life is spared, but more importantly he demonstrated to all who will listen the obedience and boldness God desires from each of us.

A Case Study in Conflict Resolution

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 2:1 – 30

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

                                                            Daniel 2:20

               There will be times in our lives where we find ourselves in serious trouble.  Sadly, sometimes those wounds are self-inflicted.  Other times, circumstances are beyond our control.  We did nothing to cause this situation, and yet here we are. How will you react, or better yet, how will you respond?  The difference between reacting and responding is about 3 seconds.  It is always better to respond.

               Daniel found himself in serious trouble, none of which he caused.  In fact, up until this moment, he was one of a handful of Israelite slaves living in Babylon who chose to not eat the king’s meat.  Most  Israelite men chose to just go along…to comply. Daniel ordered his life in obedience to God’s commands.  Now he faced execution at the hands of an angry king through no fault of his own.

               Daniel’s response throughout this predicament should be a case study for us all.  He begins by meeting the problem head on with, “counsel and wisdom” (Daniel 2:14).  He did not run around to everyone else to talk about the problem or put off talking to the people involved while gathering support.  No, he met his executioner and talked with him.  Arioch, the man tasked with executing the wise men of Babylon, then sent Daniel directly to the king to plead his case.  Again, Daniel did not shy away from this responsibility. Men need to learn to not run from problems.  That just leads to more of a problem that someone else may have to deal with.  It is an act of cowardice.

               Daniel is given time by the king, and his next move needs to be etched in our minds.  Daniel and his friends pray for the mercy of God (Daniel 2:17 – 18).  So often, people say, “All I can do is pray”.  What should be said is, “All I need to do is pray.”

               In Daniel’s situation, God answered quickly.  That is not always the case.  What is more important was Daniel’s response.  Daniel 2:19 ends with, “Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”  Daniel understood who alone deserved all the honor, glory and praise. Do you?

Daniel was Measurably Better...are You?

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 1:17 – 21

“And in all manners of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”

                                                            Daniel 1:20

               The book of Daniel opens with Daniel controlling the controllables in his life.  With so much out of his hands, he and his three friends determined that they would not eat the king’s meat or drink the king’s drink. It was the one area where they could plant their flag! This was a pattern, a habit, that these committed men repeated throughout their lives. 

Taking a stand builds muscle memory as that exercise is repeated in life. However, make no mistake, the opposite is also true.  When men choose to not stand, we also strengthen that muscle. Choices matter!

God honored these faithful souls by giving them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom (Daniel 1:17).  The effects were measurable.  They were ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in the kingdom where they were now enslaved.

  In our lives today, God also offers us wisdom.  Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord giveth wisdom.” However, it is up to us to get it according to Proverbs 16:16 and then apply it according to Colossians 4:5-6. The Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom in every aspect of our lives.  When we choose to get the wisdom of God’s Word and then apply it in our lives, we will be considered fools by the world (I Corinthians 3:18), but the difference it will make in your life will be measurable, just like it was when Daniel and his friends planted their flag. Plant your flag on the wisdom of God’s Word in your life!

Daniel's Line in the Sand

 

Daily Reading:  Daniel 1

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank:  therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel 1:8

Daniel would one day hold the third highest position in the kingdom of Babylon, but Daniel 1 does not describe that season of his life.  At this stage, he was simply a young man from Jerusalem carried away captive.  He held no rank, position, or authority.  He had been stripped of everything including his freedom.  Even his name was replaced with the Chaldean name Belteshazzar; a name that meant protects his life.  Bel was a Chaldean god.  This was a concerted effort by the conquerors to erase the heritage of these newly enslaved people and mold them into Chaldean society where they were to stand before the king after their years of indoctrination.

At this point, most decisions were out of Daniel’s hands.  He was living through many unknown and uncontrollable circumstances, but Daniel made a choice.  It was his line in the sand.  His decision stands as a testimony to the name he carried from his birth.  Daniel means God is my judge and he understood that he only answered to Him. This decision could have led to his death, and I am sure Daniel understood the gravity of that choice. Ultimately Melzar, the price of the eunuchs, accepted Daniel’s request, but that is not important.  What matters is that Daniel determined to stand no matter the response. 

In this life, in this generation, this world needs Daniels.  The church needs Daniels.  Your friends need a Daniel.  Your home, your marriage, and your children need a Daniel.  Be the faithful one who is willing to draw the line in the sand.  The one who will say, “Here and no further!”  There are plenty of things in this life that are beyond our control but never fear standing alone with God…no matter the outcome.

The Lord Our Guide

 

Daily Reading:  Psalm 31

"For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me." 

                                                    Psalm 31:3 (KJV)

 

    David wrote Psalm 31 during one of the most heartbreaking seasons of his life. As he fled from his son Absalom, who sought to take his throne, David experienced betrayal, fear, and sorrow. Yet, even in this dark hour, he declared his trust in God as his rock and fortress. David recognized that the Lord’s guidance was not only a matter of survival but also a testimony to God’s glory—"for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me."

     In our own lives, we will face seasons of trial, when circumstances seem to crumble beneath us. These moments remind us of our inability to navigate life’s challenges on our own. Like David, we must turn to the Lord, our unchanging foundation, for guidance. But the need for God's direction extends beyond difficulties; we also need Him to guide us in times of peace and prosperity, ensuring we stay aligned with His plans and purposes.

     Paul echoes this truth in his letter to the Romans: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14, KJV). Just as David sought the Lord’s leading during his trials, Paul emphasizes the privilege and responsibility of being Spirit-led as children of God.

     As we surrender to God’s guidance, we find not only a path forward but also the ability to guide others. Whether as parents, mentors, or friends, our reliance on God becomes a testimony to His faithfulness and a light for others to follow.

     In both good and difficult times, let us trust the Lord as our rock and fortress. His Spirit will lead us, strengthen us, and equip us to guide others in His name and for His glory.

One of a Kind

Daily Reading:  Job 1:1 – 8

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, 

that there is none like him in the earth 

                                    Job 1:8

        The Lord asked Satan to consider His servant Job. While we may find it odd that God would put Job in Satan’s crosshairs, have you ever paused to consider Job? Scripture describes him as perfect and upright. Those alone are high praise from an inspired book. These are God’s words not man’s words.  Perfect speaks of his purity and wholesomeness. He was a man of moral integrity. Upright expresses rightness or correctness that is pleasing.  This man lived his life with integrity, that others might follow. 

        Job was more than perfect and upright.  Those attributes were obviously the result of a man that feared God.  Job held the Lord in highest regard.  It was not lip-service, but genuine reverence.  Because of reverence, Job was turned off and withdrawn from evil.

        Job was a physically blessed man. He had many children, servants, and riches.   Despite all that he had, or perhaps because of all that he had, he never lost sight of God.  Job 1:5 shows Job’s great compassion and concern for the spiritual wellbeing of his children. He did not pass this responsibility to his servants or even to his wife. This was his responsibility alone, and he took it personally. Job continually offered burnt offerings for each of them. This is time well invested, because unbeknownst to Job, their lives were about to be cut short.

        Are you personally invested in the spiritual wellbeing of your children?  If you are not, why not?  if you do not have children yet, that invest in your own spiritual wellbeing so if God blesses you with children, you are equipped to invest in them...to lead them...to love them.  

        Job was one of a kind in his generation of the earth.  That does not mean God could not say of you, “there is none like him in the earth” in this generation.  

We All are the Lord’s

Daily Reading:  Romans 14:1 – 14

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

                        Romans 14:12

Across Christianity, there is a spectrum of beliefs genuinely held by sincere brothers in Christ.  Often those beliefs are in error and are the result of confusion due to a failure to see and apply the truth of II Timothy 2:15. A failure to rightly divide can lead to a lot of problems.  In those instances, we have a duty to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) so that those in error might, “Come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4).      

With that duty also comes great responsibility.  This is a responsibility that is often ignored among believers; even among believers who claim to understand the grace of God.  Our duty to be right overrides our responsibility to be loving, gracious, and accepting of a brother in Christ who holds a different conviction.  Among the Roman believers, there were apparent differences regarding what could be eaten and what days were important.  These differences had the potential to divide brothers in Christ.  Some were walking in liberty, while others were clearly allowing aspects of the law to limit their liberty.  If we are to lead others into that liberty, we must avoid driving out brothers.  

To avoid condemning those with different beliefs, while at the same time speaking the truth in love, we must apply the key truth of Romans 14:8 to our life and to our view of their life.  We ALL are the Lord’s!  

Obviously then, leading others does not require creating perfect duplicates of yourself unless you are insecure or prideful.  God can and truly does work through our differences, even doctrinally, for His honor and glory.  In fact, is it possible that God can work though a humble servant with some doctrinal problems more that a prideful person who has all his doctrine “perfect” by someone’s standards?

Leadership Lesson from the Biblical Historical Account of Christmas

 

Daily Reading:  Matthew 1:18 – 25

“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily”

                                                                                                 Matthew 1:19

               We live in an unjust world.  In fact, many of the calls for “justice” today are not seeking biblical justice but a broken redefined idea of it that promotes the opposite. Sadly, those values will only lead to more hurt, suffering, and pain in an already broken world. When a man is just by God’s standards, he will stand out in a culture fraught with injustice.  Joseph, the husband of Mary, was such a man.

Living like Joseph does not just happen.  It is a choice. In reality, to be considered a just man requires consistency in our choices. While we can be sure Joseph’s genealogy and upbringing had an impact on his preparation and training to live as a just man, ultimately, the choices Joseph made every day were all that mattered in earning that recognition by God in His word. 

It would be fascinating to know the decisions Joseph made through the years leading up to the birth of Christ.  What difficult decisions had he made that Scripture would describe his as a just man? How had those decisions steeled him for the difficult yet just decision he would make to not stone Mary. Joseph’s decision to not have Mary stoned to death would go against what was culturally acceptable. It was the just thing to do, but make no mistake, his decision was consistent with his character.

God knew the decision Joseph would make before He made it because God is omniscient.  Will men know with a level of certainty the decisions you will make because of your character?  When others see you, what do they know of your character based on the choices you make every day in your life?  What do they know of your character based on the decisions you make between cultural norms and what is right?  We, like Joseph, are known by our character. Every decision you make is a reflection of your character.  Choose wisely!  Choose Biblically!

Leadership Lesson from the Biblical Historical Account of Christmas

 

Daily Reading:  Luke 1:67 - 80

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

                                                                                            Luke 1:80

               John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus and was used by God to prepare the way of the Lord just as prophecy proclaimed.  What a blessing and what a responsibility.  His birth was announced by the angel Gabriel. He was called the prophet of the Highest. The people believed the Lord was with him (Luke 1:66). He even baptized Jesus (Matthew 3:13 – 17).

               What should catch you attention is that John had no formal training. In fact, John’s upbringing is encapsulated in one verse where we learn that his childhood was spent in the deserts.  He did not spend his time in the Temple or even running in the shadow of the Temple around the streets of Jerusalem.  He did not spend his time at the feet of some recognized expert in the law of Moses– a professional teacher.  Many boys in later years would sit at the feet of Gamaliel like Saul of Tarsus who later became the Apostle Paul, but John did not have that privilege. According to Luke 1:80, John grew physically, spiritually, and emotionally, and continued to grow strong in spirit while maturing in the desert until God was ready to use him in a mighty way.

               We live in a day where we are enamored with the professional and the expert. There is great value in learning a skill through experience, and great value in paying an expert in many cases. However, when it comes to growing spiritually, we have been led to believe a lie. The lie is that we need an expert class to understand the things of Scripture. Again, I am not saying there is no value in formal training or even that God cannot use formal training in your life. But not having formal training should not serve as an excuse to not serve the Lord. John was the forerunner of the Savior of the world with no formal training. All John ever had was his life experience in the desert and training by his father Zacharias.

               God can use your informal experiences and the direction of a godly father or father figure to equip and prepare you to do the good works He has prepared for your life. Do not ever fall prey to the idea that not having formal training somehow disqualifies you.  That is just an excuse to stop you from doing what God has already prepared you to accomplish in life!

Leadership Lesson from the Biblical Historical Account of Christmas

 

Daily Reading:  Luke 1:57 – 66

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

                                                                                                Luke 1:64

               Every one of us has made mistakes.  We have made choices and done things that hurt others.  We have made choices and done things that have hurt ourselves.  We have tarnished our reputation and have stained our testimony more times than we care to admit.  Our lives are to be lived to, “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Titus2:10), yet often we fail.

               Zacharias was a man who made a mistake.  By the world’s standards, it would be viewed as a nonexistent infraction.  He had not done something worthy of punishment under human law.  In fact, he was an honorable man who kept the law and faithfully discharged his duties as a priest. Yet for his misstep, the angel Gabriel took away Zacharias’ ability to speak for the better part of a year. Obviously, this missing of the mark (sin) was important to the Lord. His misstep was not in what he was doing but in his lack of faith in the Lord whose law he kept and whose priestly duties he performed.

               Zacharias learned from this incident.  Going forward, he would make the right choices when the opportunity presented itself.  On the eighth day after the birth of his son, the neighbors showed up to circumcise and name the child.  This was Zacharias’ opportunity to make the right choice.  Rather than give the child his name, he heeds the words of Gabriel and names him John.  His voice is restored and the first thing he does is praise God! John would go on to serve as the forerunner of Jesus Christ.  I am sure his upbringing was directly impacted by the lessons his father learned through his misstep and lack of faith.

Every man has a history.  We have all made mistakes.  I am thankful God is concerned with the character of a man and not his history.  Despite your history, what are the choices you are making now? You cannot change the past.  You often cannot undo pain you have caused.  But we can all learn from Zacharias and do the next thing right!