Tag: Kingdom of God

Day 7 :: Living Stone of SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Join us for the 12 Day YMCA Devotion Series – LIVING STONES: LEAD, CARE AND SERVE LIKE JESUS

How can we be ‘like Living Stones’ used by God to strengthen the presence of Christ where we lead?

Recently, 24 YMCA leaders with the OnPrinciple program visited 12 places throughout the Holy Land where Jesus taught about how to live and lead in God’s kingdom.

From this experience comes 12 spiritual leadership principles – or Living Stones – (inspired by 1Peter 2:4-5) that Christ-followers can embody as we are being built up to lead, care and serve everyone, like Jesus.

by Carlos Verastegui, Executive Director with the YMCA of Greater San Antonio

Being a leader is often received with the pressure of having to deliver, perform or achieve.

Some embrace it as motivation – with every victory comes confidence, growth, and a reputation.

Take a look at Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. He’s played in 11  Super Bowls, earned seven championship rings, and selected as MVP six times.

As a captain of his team, he is respected by his peers and known to lead by example.

He’s not afraid to ask anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself, modeling servant leadership.

As impressive as those athletic accolades are, there was someone who modeled what it means to be the greatest servant leader in every area of life: Christ Jesus.

When I was in Jerusalem recently our group was able to spend some time in what is thought to be the site of the Upper Room where Jesus shared his last Passover meal with his disciples.

While there we took time to remember what he said and did, which included Jesus humbly performing the lowest of servants’ task, washing the dirt off the feet of his disciples, covered only with a towel around his waist.

Jesus, King of the Jews, the Son of God, the powerful healer who also fed thousands of people – he flipped the roles, showing them what servant leadership can look like, serving instead of commanding, showing humility instead of brandishing authority, empowering his disciples to go out and serve others as He did.

Have you ever been put in a position where you gave up the comforts of being the boss to jump in the fire to help out that front-line worker with their duties?

Did you do it reluctantly, willingly, or free because it was the right thing to do?

Can you honestly say to yourself that you are not above that? 

Jesus didn’t. He took it as an opportunity to teach his disciples how to be a servant leader.

Please pray with me:

God, give us humility so that we may plant seeds in others by flipping the roles of leadership to model servanthood as living stones, just as Jesus did. Amen

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Jesus, in the Upper Room [Gospel according to John, 13.12-17]

This YMCA devotion series brought to you by onPrinciple – click here to learn more about it – a new leadership development program to strengthen the presence of Christ in the YMCA

Click here for the entire devotion series as a downloadable PDF booklet.

Click here to access entire devotion series on YouVersion

Day 6 :: Living Stone of EMPOWERMENT

Join us for the 12 Day YMCA Devotion Series – LIVING STONES: LEAD, CARE AND SERVE LIKE JESUS

How can we be ‘like Living Stones’ used by God to strengthen the presence of Christ where we lead?

Recently, 24 YMCA leaders with the OnPrinciple program visited 12 places throughout the Holy Land where Jesus taught about how to live and lead in God’s kingdom.

From this experience comes 12 spiritual leadership principles – or Living Stones – (inspired by 1Peter 2:4-5) that Christ-followers can embody as we are being built up to lead, care and serve everyone, like Jesus.

by Tim Hallman, Christian Emphasis Director with the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne

Standing in Jericho near the base of the sycamore tree many believe Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus, I looked up into its gnarled leafy branches.

I used my imagination to envision the crowds surging through the area, of Jesus making his way along the street, of Zacchaeus hefting himself up into the tree, and of Jesus stopping to look up.

What was Zacchaeus thinking? Why did he want to see Jesus so intently?

What was Jesus thinking? Why did he want to see Zacchaeus? What did he see in him? What did he have in mind for the wealthy chief tax collector?

We know from his own words that Jesus saw in Zacchaeus a son of Abraham, a sheep of Israel that he had come to find, rescue, heal and save (see Ezekiel 34:16).

When Jesus the highly respected and righteous rabbi looks up to Zacchaeus the corrupt tax collector and invites himself to dinner, Jesus uses his power of holy presence to transform Zacchaeus’ life.

Jesus helps us see how proximity can be empowering.

Despite the muttering and complaints of the crowd – as deserving as they were – Jesus empowered Zacchaeus with the courage to withstand judgment one last time to receive a new calling, to become a living stone and not a burdensome one in the community.

There can be an isolating and enslaving power in the names and situations we find ourselves with – roles and reputations, expectations of the future based on the past, of our habits, fears, and desires.

Through sharing in a meal together, Jesus put his healing power near the sinner Zacchaeus, he put his holy power in him, that he might be set free to lead like him, to love, care and serve as he does.

I’m sure Jesus smiled big when Zacchaeus pledged to make amends to his community through his financial generosity.

What an empowering and healing moment for his neighbors – getting their much-needed money back and sighing with relief at no more bribery, corruption, or greed from their chief tax collector.

In whatever leadership opportunities God calls you to, look up for ways to empower others, to be present to see in them what Jesus sees.

May the presence of Jesus draw close to your spirit, may his power in you compel generous compassion that brings healing to the wounded, strength to the weak, and God’s salvation to the lost.

“So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”

Gospel according to Luke, 19.4-6

This YMCA devotion series brought to you by onPrinciple – click here to learn more about it – a new leadership development program to strengthen the presence of Christ in the YMCA

Click here for the entire devotion series as a downloadable PDF booklet.

Click here to access entire devotion series on YouVersion

Day 5 :: Living Stone of FAITH

Join us for the 12 Day YMCA Devotion Series – LIVING STONES: LEAD, CARE AND SERVE LIKE JESUS

How can we be ‘like Living Stones’ used by God to strengthen the presence of Christ where we lead?

Recently, 24 YMCA leaders with the OnPrinciple program visited 12 places throughout the Holy Land where Jesus taught about how to live and lead in God’s kingdom.

From this experience comes 12 spiritual leadership principles – or Living Stones – (inspired by 1Peter 2:4-5) that Christ-followers can embody as we are being built up to lead, care and serve everyone, like Jesus.

by Bruce Jeffery, Vice President of Community Action in YMCA of Greater Cincinnati

When Jesus showed up that night to the disciples walking on the water while they were in the boat, what was going through his mind about testing their faith? 

Jesus set an amazing example for his disciples, leading by faith through his belief that his Father in Heaven would protect him while walking on the water.

Jesus’ leadership shows us that stretching your faith in God is a crucial test we must all endure on this journey.

I think one way our faith is often tested is when we wrestle with turning over a situation or idea to God, and trusting that if it’s his will, believing it’s already done.

Not long ago I was in a boat on the sea of Galilee, and I couldn’t help to have many real-life fears. 

As a non-swimmer, I had the fear of, “Will the boat tip over?” “Will there be a storm like in the Bible to come while we are on the boat?”

Any number of thoughts came across my mind until I really sat and thought, “This is what the disciples felt.”

As I remember being in that boat, it’s powerful to imagine what it would have been like to see Jesus walk up towards the boat and calls to one of his disciples to test his faith.

While we were on the boat in Galilee listening to this Gospel story being read, it hit me, “Keep my eyes on Christ and there is nothing to be afraid of.”

Would I have been as courageous as Peter to step out of the boat? 

The story tells us that as the storm got worse, Peter took his eyes off Jesus and immediately began to sink.

I believe all of our faith has and will be tested, whether you are a seasoned Christian or someone who has just committed themselves to Christ.

Will we courageously accept the testing of our faith?

Or, will we lose sight of what Christ is doing in us and for us?

Would you pray with me? 

Dear God, forgive me for losing faith in you at times. I know that you are God and trust that what you’re doing in my life is for me. Help me to keep my eyes focused on Jesus Christ through the storm and strengthen me to be a living stone as I seek you more and more every day. Amen.

“They cried out because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,”

Gospel according to Mark, 6.50-51

This YMCA devotion series brought to you by onPrinciple – click here to learn more about it – a new leadership development program to strengthen the presence of Christ in the YMCA

Click here for the entire devotion series as a downloadable PDF booklet.

Click here to access entire devotion series on YouVersion