DRAWING NEAR
MAY 9
Building a Leader: The Right Lessons
The twelve apostles included "Simon, who is called Peter" (Matt.
10:2).
We have seen that God uses our experiences to mold us into more
effective Christians and leaders. Using Peter as our example, let's
briefly look at five lessons we can learn from our experiences:
submission, restraint, humility, sacrifice, and love.
Leaders tend to be confident and aggressive, so they must learn to
submit to authority. Jesus illustrated that by telling Peter to go
fishing and look for a coin in the mouth of the first fish he caught
(Matt. 17:24-27). He was to use that coin to pay their taxes. Peter
was a citizen of God's Kingdom, but he needed an object lesson in
submitting to governmental authorities.
When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter grabbed a sword and
would have fought the entire group if Jesus hadn't restrained him.
Peter needed to learn to entrust His life to the Father, just as
Christ was doing.
Peter bragged that he would never leave or forsake Christ--but he
did. Perhaps humility was the most painful lesson he had to learn.
Jesus told Peter that he would die as a martyr (John 21:18-19). From
that day forward Peter knew his life was on the line, yet he was
willing to make the necessary sacrifice and minister anyway.
Leaders tend to be task oriented and often are insensitive to people.
Peter was that way, so Jesus demonstrated love by washing his feet
and instructing him to do loving deeds for others (John 13:6-9, 34).
Submission, restraint, humility, sacrifice, and love should be
characteristic of every believer--no matter what role he or she has
within the Body of Christ. I pray they are characteristic of your
life, and that you will constantly seek to grow in those graces as
God continues His work in you.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Spiritual lessons are sometimes painful to learn, but God is patient
and gracious. Thank Him for His patience and thank Him also for
Christ, who is the perfect example of what we should be.
For Further Study:
Peter learned his lesson well. Read 1 Peter 2:13-18, 21-23; 4:8, 16;
and 5:5. What can you learn from Peter's instructions on submission,
restraint, love, sacrifice, and humility?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Matthew 17:24-27 (NKJV)
24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple
tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple
tax?"
25 He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus
anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the
kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from
strangers?"
26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the
sons are free.
27 "Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a
hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened
its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to
them for Me and you."
John 21:18-19
18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded
yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will
stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where
you do not wish."
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And
when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
John 13:6-9, 34
6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You
washing my feet?"
7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not
understand now, but you will know after this."
8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered
him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."
9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my
hands and my head!"
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I
have loved you, that you also love one another.
1 Peter 2:13-18
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men;
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as
bondservants of God.
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only
to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
1 Peter 2:21-23
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He
suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who
judges righteously;
1 Peter 4:8
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love
will cover a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:16
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but
let him glorify God in this matter.
1 Peter 5:5
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.
Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with
humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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