Being Faithful

I mentioned Ben Norton's Espresso Scriptures a few days ago. I have been dipping into them the way they were originally intended to be read, one (or, in my case, usually two) at a time and allowing them to sink in and be pondered.

I was very struck bt one I read yesterday, and think it well worth sharing. I think it has a lot to say to, and about, today's society.

The Scripture is Psalm 89:2 - I know that your love will last for all time, that your faithfulness is as permanent as the sky.

Ben comments - I wonder when the last time was that you were faithful? So often we only hear about people being unfaithful, and being faithful is something that we take for granted. But I think that's the problem: if we don't focus on being faithful, we can slip into unfaithfulness. I am not just talking about relationships, but being faithful to who we are and what we believe in. The people who wrote the psalms really understood that God's faithfulness is an amazing concept, which brings some real security in life.

Spend some time this week thinking about what it was you wanted to achieve and who you wanted to become. And then ask yourself, "Am I being faithful?"

Models of Leadership - Peter - the 'rock that moved'

As we look at Peter we can identify -

a)  the commitment of the leader - Mark 1:16-18. Peter (Simon) left everything - family, house, friends, work, village - to follow Jesus.

b)  the responsibility of the leader - Matthew 16:18-19. Jesus has a task for each of us.

c)  the special experience of the leader - Mark 9:2-4. God gives us very special moments to inspire and support us.

d)  the leader's need to learn - John 13:5-10. None of us know everything.

e)  the failure of the leader - Mark 14:71-72. As leaders we are not perfect and need to recognise that we do not always do the right thing.

f)  the restoration of the leader - John 21:15-17. God forgives us.

g)  the proclamation of the leader - Acts 2:14. The leader should proclaim the message given to her/him by God.

h)  the prayer of the leader - Acts 3:1. Prayer is the source of our power.

i)  the vision of the leader - Acts 10:9-10. We should respond to the visions God gives us.

j)  the guidance of the leader - Acts 10:34. It is not the leader's task to take all the decisions, but sometimes we need to offer guidance and advice.

k)  the leader's depenence on the prayers of other believers - Acts 12:5.

Models of Leadership - Deborah - God's 'bee'

We are calling her God's 'bee', because that is what her name means in Hebrew. She, the first judicial official mentioned in the Bible, is a married woman - Judges 4/5.

Deborah produced the 'honey' of fellowship and community. She was available to the people.

Deborah produced the 'honey' of discernment as an effective judge.

Deborah produced the 'honey' of motivation - specifically, we read how she encouraged Barak to obey the Lord's command.

Deborah produced the 'honey' of support. Her presence imparted strength.

Models of Leadership - Jeremiah - Reluctant Leader

One of the church's challenges is to find good and ellective leaders. Many are reluctant to take on the task. If you are called to leadership, but reluctant you are in good company. There are many Biblical examples, notably Jeremiah. Moses was another.

Jeremiah was mocked and his life was threatened leading to his wishing to escape his prophetic calling. Maybe we also wish to abandon some aspect of our Christian service? But, maybe, like Jeremiah, we will also discover we cannot abandon our call. Jeremiah found that it was like a fire within him that could not be put out. God does call us to take risks, but always provides the resources we need.