Jesus never inherited a large organisation. Guided by the Holy Spirit, He started developing Himself and later served His gifts to people He was called to. With some traction, He made the move to assemble a team.

 

What would Jesus do if He started leading my team or at the head of operations in my organisation?

 

He proceeded by challenging ‘normal’ thinking about issues of the day, and assured His mentees that in spite of their current disposition, they are blessed! He was on His way to building a massive, global brand.

 

Prayer Point

Father, I acknowledge that Your thoughts are higher and Your ways are better (Isaiah 55:9). I receive the grace to align my thoughts with Your thoughts and my ways to Your ways.

 

Guide me so that I do not conform to the mould and the thinking of this present age and her practices. Help me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind so that I may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). 

 

 

Remember, He had just called some lads the society had deemed not worthy of the honour of being under the scholarship of a rabbi. They had entered into the workforce by their mid-teens, apprentice under their fathers in the family trade. Though having a knowledge of portions of the Law and the Prophets, they were expecting a ‘saviour’ that would deliver them from the oppression of Rome and set up his own kingdom.

 

God’s thoughts towards you are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Whatever you think your needs are, God has greater things in store for you (1Corinthians 2:9). 

 

The disciples thought they needed to be a part of an earthly kingdom, God gave them ownership of the heavenly kingdom that is in charge of all earthly kingdoms. What a trade!

 

Prayer Point

Father, I connect to Your divine intelligence to access your wisdom in all facets of life. The reverential fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I lean into Your Spirit to teach me all things as I should know.

 

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Some of these maxims are sheer paradoxical to the natural man.

 

Word-studies

Blessed (makarios): “happy, to be envied”

Poor (ptochos): “completely lacking resources”

 

To be envied are those who humbly acknowledge their poverty in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

He declared to them that He cared about them, first! People don’t care what you know until they know you care. He offered to the disciples, despite their poverty in spirit something infinitely precious - the kingdom of heaven. This is grace and favour. So with your family, team members etc., as a leader, start with grace and favour.

 

This was Jesus’ way of making his mentees understand that while they were still impoverished in the knowledge and understanding of spiritual things, He has blessed them with the kingdom of heaven. In another place, He said to them, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19).

 

Prayer Point

Father, as I acknowledge my want in the spirit, I receive the kingdom of heaven which You have made available. I bring Your kingdom into my home, business, ministry, career, and relationship IJN.

Father, I acknowledge that Your thoughts are higher and Your ways are better (Isaiah 55:9). I receive the grace to align my thoughts with Your thoughts and my ways to Your ways.