Editors note: The devotionals that appear from this month on will be taken from the summer archives because I want to go over the Gospel of Mark from the beginning.. It is possible they will have updates and will be highlighted in pink.

Quiet Times: (Psalm 26,  Proverbs 26,, and Mark 2:23-28)

"I publicly praise the Lord for keeping me from slipping and falling." (Psalm 26:12, TLB)

"Fire goes out for lack of  fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops." (Proverbs 26:20, TLB)

^“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:23-28, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself what words/phrases were repeated?

As I looked through the passage, Sabbath was mentioned 5 times so I decided to focus on it to see in what instances it was mentioned.

1. One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.

2. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

3. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man,

4. Not man for the Sabbath.

5. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

 Interpretations:

Point 1:
I asked myself why Jesus would go through the grainfields!

It occurred to me whatever Jesus did He had a reason for it. Jesus already knew that the disciples were going to pick some heads of grain. Jesus took this opportunity to address the Pharisees regarding the Sabbath because He knew they were going to ask Him a question. Earlier in the chapter, I learned that Jesus knew what the Pharisees and teachers of the law were thinking in their minds even before they said it. It would be no different here. Jesus wanted to teach them a lesson regarding the actions of the disciples too.

Point 2:
I asked myself what was significant about the question the Pharisees asked Jesus!

I found it interesting that the Pharisees do not address the disciples who they perceive to be breaking the law but directly address Jesus regarding the disciples. Rather, than talking to the disciples, they go directly to the source. This made me see that the Pharisees saw Jesus as the leader of the disciples and whatever mistakes the disciples did, they wanted answers from Jesus because Jesus was in a leadership role.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life. The Pharisees saw Jesus in a leadership role and when mistakes were made, they did not address the persons making the mistake but went to the source. This showed me the responsibility we have when we are in a leadership role. Those who think they are leaders take it an opportunity to challenge other leaders when their followers mess up.

This tells me when we are in a leadership role, we need to be aware of the actions of those that follow us. We also need to be prepared for the fact  that if followers mess up, people may not question the followers for the mess up but the leader who is in charge of the followers. If the leader does not have a substantive defense, not only is the leader affected but the followers are too.

Speaking from experience, I can tell you being in a leadership role is not always easy. Being in authority over employees who I have to supervise is like a leader-follower role. When the employees have messed up, the managers go to the supervisor to address the situation than the employees. The assumption is that the supervisor is supposed to supervise the employees and if something went wrong then the supervisor is to answer. This makes a lot of sense!

Even in ministry, if you are a campus minister you have student leaders who work under you and follow you. When the student leaders mess up and do things that are unbiblical in their leadership role, the one who oversees the campus ministers will address the campus minister to see why it has happened that way because the campus minister was put in authority to do the Lord’s work on campus and faithfully shepherd the student leaders. When followers mess up, the Lord could demand an answer from you because He put you in that leadership role to shepherd them! If negative things were happening then the campus minister may not have been doing his job properly.

People don’t have to be in authority to question someone if they perceive them to be doing wrong. I can think of the church as an example. If people perceive that a certain church overlooks deliberate and blatant sin of their congregation members and does not even address it but gives a perception of condoning it, the congregation members are not those who are questioned but the pastor of that church would be in the spotlight and in the hot seat.

Whatever Jesus did I know is right and I intend to look more closely at Jesus’ response in tomorrow’s devotional time.

I ask you now dear friend, what kind of leader are you?

Dear friend, there are only two choices when it comes to being a leader; you are either a good leader or a bad leader. It can be an honor to be a leader but there is also great responsibility that comes with it. Those that follow you will be influenced by your own actions because they see you in a leadership position. You can take that opportunity to be a righteous leader as you depend on the Lord Jesus Christ to help you and guide you to be the best leader you can be. I know I want to be the best leader wherever the Lord has placed me. Everyone is a leader in some capacity for everyone has followers whether we acknowledge it or not. If you are a big brother or sister, you have younger brother/sister that becomes a follower, etc. Jesus is the best example of learning how to be a good leader.

May you learn from the Master Himself on how to be a good leader for His honor and glory! Amen!

Good books to read on leadership are "Transforming Leadership" and "Master Plan of Evangelism". If you want those books, I can give you a copy!

“Leading Everyday Always Deliverer Emancipates Readily!”(L.E.A.D.E.R)/”What kind of  leader are you?

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for letting me learn about leadership. Oh Lord thank you for being the best leader and being up to the challenge to answer those that question your leadership. You Oh Lord have set an example for us. Help us Oh Lord to know that when we are in a leadership position, we are scrutinized more and need to set a good example for those that follow us. Lord, when we are followers also help us to follow depending on you for wisdom. More than anything, Oh Lord we ask your help to follow you. We want to follow you Jesus and be guided by you. Forgive us our sin Oh Lord and cleanse us with your precious cleansing blood. I thank you Jesus! Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life as I follow you with your help. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior! I surrender my life to you and ask for your help! Thank you Jesus that you have heard my prayers and answered me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend, you may feel something or you may not but this you can be assured that the Lord Jesus has come into your life and will give you a new beginning! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Fall of October 2005, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579.

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

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