Tony Fadell. Have you ever heard of him? He was the architect of something you probably heard of – the IPod. Under the direction of Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, Fadell and his team developed the new technology. What was the purpose for this industry-changing gadget? According to Jobs, it was to put “1,000 songs in your pocket”.
The God of heaven and earth is the architect of human beings. He made men and made us with a purpose. What is it? As I read the Scriptures, I see repeatedly how God purposed a man to protect, provide and lead those whom they have responsibility for.
Society has its own idea about men. One is the TV-sitcom guy. They are portrayed as lazy, lacking character and more interested in being entertained than anything else. The other is the work-all-the-time guy. These men are consumed with work, highly driven and find their personal worth tethered to their occupation.
God called it “good” when he made the man, and into the fabric of our being He built an instinctive desire to protect, provide and lead. However, that is to be carried out within the framework of two very important commandments: love God and love others.
Men, this is where we get side tracked and draw some valid criticism. The TV-sitcom man thinks life is about his fun and the work-all-the-time guy his career. In neither case is there a humble attitude of love through service to those whom we have been given responsibility for.
God has a vision for your life as a man. It is discovered through Jesus, the standard for all men. He was one of the hardest working men of His day and during a time of crisis, we saw the heart of what a real man was. It was the moment He suffered and died upon His cross. There He willingly laid down His life for the sake of others. It was not about His entertainment, nor personal agenda. As men, we are called to live the same way. Regardless if you are married or single observe the humble attitude in this statement from the Bible, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).
Men, Jesus has pioneered a new path for you. Turn to Him and aspire to become the kind of man He was – and still is today. May He be your hope for today.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
HOPE FOR TODAY: Great Power Calls for Great Responsibility
When Young Peter Parker was still growing into his newfound superpower as Spiderman, during a pivotal moment, he remembered a comment his Uncle made to him, “With great power comes great responsibility”.
No matter if someone is a leading political official, the top of a successful company, or the head of an influential organization they all have something in common. Their position comes with a level of power and authority.
The need for responsible management of power is essential, as some leaders will grow to like their power and work to retain it. As a result, self-preserving decisions will be made. In the short term, such decisions will bring success. In the long term, they will bring devastating consequences. Additionally, a power-hungry leader will begin to experience the inward effects of the poisonous cocktail they willingly drink. It is a potent mixture of pride, arrogance and selfishness along with a shot of greed.
Eventually, this poison will so weaken leaders that what they have built will mercilessly be ripped from their fingers in embarrassment and shame.
What if someone occupied the seat of power from the mindset of serving rather than receiving, humility rather than pride, generosity rather than greed? What if they never operated out of a self-preservation motive? What if they did what was right, good and just even if they knew it might cost them dearly?
There is an example of someone who did lead that way – Jesus. In three years, He rose from an obscure carpenter to one of the most powerful and influential figures of His day. Today, nearly 2,000 years later, His name is known worldwide and the movement He started, Christianity, numbers in the billions of followers.
Jesus made a startling statement that reveals His unique style of leadership, “For even the Son of Man [Jesus] came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
What would happen to our world if all those in positions of power led from the mindset of Jesus? What a difference it would make. May those with great power exercise great responsibility. May leaders choose to humble themselves before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, calling upon Him to change their hearts that He may be their hope for today and for those whom they lead.
No matter if someone is a leading political official, the top of a successful company, or the head of an influential organization they all have something in common. Their position comes with a level of power and authority.
The need for responsible management of power is essential, as some leaders will grow to like their power and work to retain it. As a result, self-preserving decisions will be made. In the short term, such decisions will bring success. In the long term, they will bring devastating consequences. Additionally, a power-hungry leader will begin to experience the inward effects of the poisonous cocktail they willingly drink. It is a potent mixture of pride, arrogance and selfishness along with a shot of greed.
Eventually, this poison will so weaken leaders that what they have built will mercilessly be ripped from their fingers in embarrassment and shame.
What if someone occupied the seat of power from the mindset of serving rather than receiving, humility rather than pride, generosity rather than greed? What if they never operated out of a self-preservation motive? What if they did what was right, good and just even if they knew it might cost them dearly?
There is an example of someone who did lead that way – Jesus. In three years, He rose from an obscure carpenter to one of the most powerful and influential figures of His day. Today, nearly 2,000 years later, His name is known worldwide and the movement He started, Christianity, numbers in the billions of followers.
Jesus made a startling statement that reveals His unique style of leadership, “For even the Son of Man [Jesus] came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
What would happen to our world if all those in positions of power led from the mindset of Jesus? What a difference it would make. May those with great power exercise great responsibility. May leaders choose to humble themselves before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, calling upon Him to change their hearts that He may be their hope for today and for those whom they lead.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
HOPE FOR TODAY: Finding Hope in Easter
AP Bangkok Bureau Chief, Todd Pitman, came on the scene the morning after the Japan disaster. He wrote, “A man who has not seen his wife since . . . minutes before the tsunami told me with the utmost certainty that she MUST be alive. After failing to find her at seven different shelters, he began searching for her inside a city gym-turned-morgue where the bodies of 300 tsunami victims lay under blue tarps, waiting to be identified.”
As the death toll continues to mount, people are still searching for their loved ones amidst the apocalyptic scene in Japan. Since 2011 started there also has been a deadly earthquake in New Zealand, catastrophic flooding in Australia and unrest throughout the Arab nations.
Events like these on the world stage are not new. We live on a fragile planet and into all this madness enters Easter. It is not about a sale at the department store, days off from school or Easter egg hunts. It is more. It is about God’s Son, Jesus. He suffered, died and rose again from the dead on our behalf.
Many believers in Jesus use the term “Good Friday” to talk about the day of His death. Perhaps we could also call it “Black Friday”. On it, Jesus, an innocent man, took our place in death. He was separated from His Father receiving His judgment and wrath for the sins of all mankind. It was a gruesome day of suffering and death.
The pain due to the suffering and death we have seen this year is for a season. What Jesus experienced through his crucifixion was for a season too. He did it so we would not be separated from God and suffer without Him in the lake of fire – for an eternity.
Sunday is Resurrection Day - a day of hope. Jesus is alive! He overcame sin and death through His bodily resurrection. Through it, He provided a way of escape from the judgment and wrath of God. Through it, He provided freedom from sin and death leading to genuine and lasting hope.
Easter represents light over darkness, good defeating evil and freedom for the captive. The Scripture says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Roman 15:13). May Jesus be your hope for today.
As the death toll continues to mount, people are still searching for their loved ones amidst the apocalyptic scene in Japan. Since 2011 started there also has been a deadly earthquake in New Zealand, catastrophic flooding in Australia and unrest throughout the Arab nations.
Events like these on the world stage are not new. We live on a fragile planet and into all this madness enters Easter. It is not about a sale at the department store, days off from school or Easter egg hunts. It is more. It is about God’s Son, Jesus. He suffered, died and rose again from the dead on our behalf.
Many believers in Jesus use the term “Good Friday” to talk about the day of His death. Perhaps we could also call it “Black Friday”. On it, Jesus, an innocent man, took our place in death. He was separated from His Father receiving His judgment and wrath for the sins of all mankind. It was a gruesome day of suffering and death.
The pain due to the suffering and death we have seen this year is for a season. What Jesus experienced through his crucifixion was for a season too. He did it so we would not be separated from God and suffer without Him in the lake of fire – for an eternity.
Sunday is Resurrection Day - a day of hope. Jesus is alive! He overcame sin and death through His bodily resurrection. Through it, He provided a way of escape from the judgment and wrath of God. Through it, He provided freedom from sin and death leading to genuine and lasting hope.
Easter represents light over darkness, good defeating evil and freedom for the captive. The Scripture says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Roman 15:13). May Jesus be your hope for today.
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