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Nazareth Hospital Chapel Devotion from 8 August 2010

11Aug '10
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Welcome

Welcome to our devotion as we head into the week of the Hospital summer camp for children of Hospital staff! We ask that you keep us in your prayers, asking for safety and for God’s leading for each of the children involved. The camp is based around Bible teaching and lots of activities and attracts more children each year!

We thank God for the team from the USA who have given their time to helping with the CEF & Kids Games camp this week. Pray for them as they travel back at the end of the camp. This week is also the last week of work for SERVE Nazareth participants as they help with the hospital summer camp. Please pray for them as they prepare for their departure next week with most of them going straight back to school and work.

Devotion

The devotion this time focuses on Christian leadership and how to be a successful leader. All of us have to lead others at times, whether in our families, church or community. How can we be successful Christian leaders and what responsibilities come with that?

James 3: 1 says Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

We are not perfect, we all stumble in our walk with God. We know ourselves and our abilities and often hesitate when God calls us to a ministry. However, when we look at the Bible, we see that all the leaders made mistakes and many gave excuses when they were called, but God chose them and we can learn from them.

Moses

Moses’ life splits into sections. For the first 40 years, he was raised as the child of Pharoah’s daughter, presumably with all the benefits that went with royalty, including the education and privilege of being one of the court. But all this changed.

The next part of Moses’ life took him to a different land and a different situation, where he ended up tending sheep. From having everything his life suddenly became completely different. He could have been unhappy or frustrated at this change, but he continued doing his job faithfully.

Exodus 3: 2 “There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.”

God wanted Moses to be a great leader. But was Moses excited about this? No. His initial reaction was to look only at his own weakness. But God chose him for a special task and promised in verse 12 “I will be with you”.

Gideon

Gideon was a great army leader. He won a huge victory with a handful of soldiers and was one of the judges of Israel. Chapters 6, 7 and 8 of Judges all speak about him as a man of God. But was he always like this?

The Midianites were causing problems and plundering the Israelites at every opportunity. Gideon was afraid and working during the night to avoid being seen when the angel came to him. He even told the angel in Judges 6: 15 "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

However, once again God gets to the heart of the matter and replies in verse 16 “I will be with you”. He responds to Gideon just as to Moses, and again tells us that our weakness does not matter, the only important thing is that God is with us. We need not look to ourselves or our family or our possessions, God Himself is with us. We have no need to depend on ourselves, but on His power to work through us.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah was one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. He had to suffer for his faith and his calling. So what was his response to his call? He had a great responsibility given to him and told God in Jeremiah 1:6 “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child”.

However, in verse 8 we see God’s reply once more, “I am with you”. This is the key.

Conclusion

Jesus on sending His disciples also said “I will be with you”. He is with each one of us until the end of the world. It is the promise of God, He is with us.

As each one of us is called to His purpose, maybe back to our homes or countries as future leaders, the Lord will be with us. He will bless us and build us into the Christian leaders He wants us to be.

Speaker: Rev Suheil Bathish