Read Galatians 4:4-7, Read Philippians 1:9-11, Read 1 John 1:5-8
Week Five focuses on application. The temptation is to focus only on actions and behaviors. If that’s all we do, then we’ve basically relegated the Gospel to mere formula and the Bible to a “How-to” manual. Both are much, much more than that. When we started this course, we were reminded that all of the doctrines, themes, ideas, and storylines in Scripture came together to form the mosaic of the Gospel—of God pursuing we human beings through Jesus Christ; of God drawing us back to Himself to call us his own; of God vanquishing sin in our lives so that we know what it really means to address God as, “Abba, Father.”
So as the course comes to an end, remember that true application begins at the heart level and extends to relationships—relationships with a loving Father and relationships with others: genuine heart-felt relationships where people’s lives are changed for the better through the power of Christ.
Ultimately, effective leadership is about making a positive impact on the people in our lives and the situations we find ourselves in, whether we’re in a formal position of leadership or not. But too often, because of the ugliness of pride, even when we want to do the right thing, we define doing the right thing in terms of our abilities and skills, not the power of Christ working through us. On some deep level, we would rather have the glory, even in doing good things. This is a failing proposition, and one that keeps us removed from truly resting in God in brokenness. But on the other hand, if we surrender our pride and self-sufficiency to the Lord, not only can we truly lead others, but we can experience true fellowship with God and others, both now and for eternity.
Consider these questions as you prepare to engage in the devotional:
- In what ways do you find yourself wanting the glory in what you do? Has a sense of “false humility” ever clouded your sense of what it means to give God the glory?
- What has it been like for you when you truly give God the glory in your accomplishments and efforts?
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