“Beep, beep, beep”, that’s the sound of my alarm on a Sunday morning. Last Sunday morning in particular was a cold, wet, dark autumnal morning. I could hear the wind whistling outside as I snuggled under my brushed cotton bedding. As the alarm continued to beep. The first thought that came to my mind was, “I don’t want to go to church today”. I called out, “Alexa, stop!” The alarm stopped. I turned on my lamp and started my quiet time. After I had finished my quiet time, I still didn’t want to go to church. I lay in my bed, under my brushed cotton duvet for about 10 mins and then said to myself, “Jean, we are going to church” and off I went. Okay, so why am I sharing this story?
Firstly, this story is a reminder that God doesn’t just “magic away” our feelings or our weaknesses. Just because I did my quiet time, it does not necessarily follow that I would feel like going to church. Sometimes, we will do our quiet times and "feel" better. Other times we won’t. It is in these seasons, rather than expecting God to conjure up new feelings, we are to speak to our souls and command them to rise up! We are to move away from being led by our flesh but be led by the Spirit of God.
Psalm 43:5 - Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God. (NIV)
Romans 8:12-14 - Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (NLT)
Secondly, even if I hadn’t made it to church, God’s love remains the same for me (Romans 8:38). There is nothing that you or I can do or not do (including going to and serving in church), that will change his love towards us (Romans 11:5-6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5).
Lastly, in my opinion, the global crisis of leadership (in and outside of the Church) is driven by deception. Many leaders are caught in lies and moral failings because they have not truly accepted and worked through their weaknesses. All too often, as leaders it is easy for us to conclude that we have overcome a certain temptation but in actual fact we haven’t and we don’t first admit this to ourselves. In my light hearted example, I am admitting that despite being a Christian and regular church attendee since childhood (at least 30 years), I still struggle on Sunday mornings.
The struggle is real for all of us. We are all trying to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We are all (or we should be) examining ourselves to see whether we are still in the faith. As soon as we stop doing this, we fall into self-deception which leads to mass deception. Once we believe we are something that we are not, it is easy to convince others of the same lie and lead many astray.
Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. (NKJV)
My goal in these devotionals is to always point people to Christ by being authentic and honest. I believe in confessing faults and revealing my weaknesses (James 5:16, 2 Corinthians 12:10). Why? Because in our weakness we are made strong and we overcome when we share our testimonies (Revelation 12:11). These principles apply whether we are in leadership or not irrespective of how high we climb.
Questions for reflection: Am I led by my emotions or by the Spirit? Have I accepted my weaknesses? Am I willing to confess my faults to another? Am I honest with myself and others? Have I committed my weaknesses and faults to the Lord in prayer?
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