Monthly Archives: May 2026

Lead Like Jesus

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Not Like Rockstars

The more I read the Gospel accounts about Jesus’ interactions, with His disciples, the more convinced I am that the prevailing world view, of His day, was really not much different than that of our own. The disciples all wanted to be “ROCKSTARS.” That’s why they followed Jesus at the start! He was popular! They thought He was going to be king over Israel & deliver their people from the Romans. Who wouldn’t want to latch onto that star, if given a chance, and, ride it as far as it would go? If ever they were going to be His disciples, Jesus would have to retrain & reteach them! His kingdom was not of this world, He told them!

Jesus’ Kingdom Way

The way of Jesus’ kingdom was entirely different from the kingdoms of this world. Listen to what Jesus told them, as recorded in Mark’s Gospel:  “Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many” Mark 10:42-45.  In essence, Jesus is teaching them to live their lives out in the hidden places of service rather than the public places of being noticed. One of my favorite pastors & authors challenges us to make that our prayer! We’ll have to pray that God changes our heart & makes us a servant; because we’ll never choose the place of obscure service in our flesh.

Jesus Is Attractive To Many

You see, Jesus & His Gospel have been misrepresented by much of the western church! So many self-identified “Christians” live such a selfish, mean-spirited, ugly way of life that our unbelieving neighbors want nothing to do with whatever it is they’re peddling! But, many unbelievers do find Jesus attractive! And, many find the true church— that strives to follow Jesus & His teachings— to be attractive like Him! Just think about it church—Jesus won us over because He served us at our deepest need! He loved us in spite of our sinful brokenness! Our cities & our neighbors will begin to pay attention to the church again when we serve them, in their need, like Jesus served us! When we love them like Jesus loved us!

Jesus’ Model of Greatness

That’s how Jesus discipled His followers, according to Mark’s text. This is what true greatness looks like, in Jesus’ kingdom! Don’t steal the world’s model for greatness because it doesn’t look anything like greatness in God’s realm! True greatness, in God’s kingdom, is counter-intuitive to this world’s standard. The “…rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them…” If you’re going to rule or lead, in the Gentile world— or, among unbelievers— you have to dominate them! You have to show ‘em who’s in charge! Like the former Russian Communist leader, Lenin, once said: “One man with a gun can control 100 without one.” That’s worldly leadership! It’s not Jesus’ way!

Leaders Are Servants

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Fools Live For Wealth

No doubt, some in this world would consider William Borden a fool! Born into one of the wealthiest families in America, he grew up the heir to a family fortune earned through real estate and the Borden’s Dairy Company. How many of you remember “Elsie,” the Borden Dairy cow? Raised with the best of everything, Borden’s father rewarded him with a trip around the world after completing high school. By God’s providence, he found himself on a ship with several missionaries bound for Asia. Moved by their zeal to take the Gospel to the lost, he wrote home: “Although I’ve never thought seriously about being a missionary… I think this trip is going to show me things in a new light.”

A Heart Captured By Missions

Upon his return from the trip, he enrolled in college at Yale University. Hearing about a student convention in Nashville, he attended, where he heard missionaries from 26 different countries speak on the subject of missions. One in particular captured his interest with his appeal for Muslim evangelism. He returned to Yale with a passion to reach Muslims with the Gospel. After graduating from Yale, he finished seminary with his sights set on ministry to Asia. First, he would do language studies in Egypt. But within weeks of his arrival in Cairo, he contracted meningitis and died! Bill Borden was only 25 years old. He left behind millions of dollars!

No Reserve! No Retreat! No Regrets!

Some considered him a fool. But under his pillow was found a note, in his handwriting, that read: “NO RESERVE! NO RETREAT! NO REGRETS!” He died fulfilling the Law of Christ—he died “serving” others! He carried the burden of those lost without Christ! If we were honest, the majority of us would choose the wealth and the fame of this world over the toil of ministering—in obscurity—to a foreign country that might be hostile toward our faith. It takes the special work of the indwelling Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the true riches: “NO RESERVE! NO RETREAT! NO REGRETS!” Bill Borden was infinitely more wealthy after choosing to be a servant to others than he ever would have been had he lived out the American Dream! If he had lived for the riches of this world, he would have left it all behind at death!

Living For Eternal Wealth

But because Bill Borden lived for the eternal riches obtained by faithful service to God and others, he gained all heaven’s riches as a joint-heir with Jesus! Pretty radical, right? I mean, that would be the opinion shared by most people in this world, wouldn’t it? But is it radical to trade away the riches that you can’t take with you for eternal riches you can never lose? Jim Elliot, who died a martyr’s death at the hands of the Auca Indians in Ecuador, made a similar statement to Borden’s: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” If that’s RADICAL, then let’s get RADICAL! God, deliver the church from the grip of the American Dream! Deliver us from the idolatry of “consumerism” and “covetousness” that it births in the heart, and its “unholy spirit” to serve self!

Serving Those Crushed By Circumstances

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The Unwanted & Discarded

I grew up in a home environment where I never doubted my parents’ love for me. I never felt abandoned or neglected. But there are those in the world who have experienced the pain of being unwanted and discarded. Most of the 153 million orphans in the world have been forsaken by their parents. They’ve been shunned and left to fend for themselves. So when James addresses this matter in Scripture, he says, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). This is what “pure religion” looks like, he says.

Look After Orphans In Their Distress

Pure, or genuine, faith in Jesus takes care of orphans who’ve been crushed by abandonment. That’s what it means to “look after them in their distress.” For the orphan, they are distressed—crushed—by the fact that they’ve been abandoned by the very people who are supposed to care for their well‑being at any cost. One or both parents abandon their children because of custom—baby girls, for example, are considered undesirable in many non‑Christian cultures. Many are killed simply for being born as a little girl. The fortunate ones are merely abandoned. I cannot even begin to comprehend the pain and distress that would bring to these precious little ones. Some have become orphans because a war has separated them from their parents, or their parents were killed and they were spared.

Look After Widows In Their Distress

Whatever the reason, these orphaned children have been crushed by the weight of their situation. And those who have pure, genuine faith in Jesus will be moved to take care of them as much as we can. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel like I’ve done enough. But James doesn’t limit his description of pure religion to caring for children who’ve been crushed by abandonment. He also says that genuine faith in Jesus takes care of widows who’ve been crushed by spousal loss. Again, I’ve never experienced the painful loss of a spouse to death. I have, however, observed it enough to know that it’s a crushing blow to the spouse left behind. It’s a distress in their life that they never quite get over. The separation is devastating for many.

Proving Faith By Caring For The Hurting

The church shows genuine faith in Jesus by taking care of the widow who’s been crushed by the loss of their mate. We may need to sacrifice our own time to spend time with them in fellowship. We may have to sacrifice financially to help meet their needs. That’s why the ministry to orphans and widows is very much like Jesus’ three‑and‑a‑half‑year ministry here on planet earth. No one ever cared more for the broken and the hurting, for the abandoned and the marginalized, than Jesus. So how do we apply this? There are ministries to get involved in, especially in the area of orphans. Become foster parents. Find something to do. Remember, pure religion is not the result of good deeds, but results in good deeds.