Daily Devotional for Sunday September 30, 2018

What is a leader?

(Romans 13:7)

***DAILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOR YOU: Dear Lord, I ask you today to open my heart and my Spirit to receive what you have for me today. Let me hear Your voice clearly and obediently follow You. Use me oh Lord, for your glory and to advance Your Kingdom! In the name of Jesus...AMEN!!!

One of the men I admire the most in God's Word and try to follow is Paul. Paul was a leader in every sense of the word. A leader is a person with vision, the guts to stand up and declare that vision, the ability to inspire others to follow, the fortitude to persevere despite whatever opposition there may be, and the patience to see that vision become a reality. I want to use Paul's life to challenge you in your personal walk to make the most of each day God gives you.

As I have shared with you often, our journey through this life is so brief and over so quickly. James calls it a "vapor." The Bible clearly teaches that tomorrow is promised to none of us. That is why we must make the most of each and every day. There are no do-overs. When this journey is over, it is over, we are not coming back. This is our one and only shot. Understanding that, it should become the desire of each of us to make each day count and live it to the fullest.

Very few people in their life will have the opportunity to become the President of the United States or the leader of a nation. However, EVERY PERSON has the ability to make a difference in this world no matter what you have been called to do. I don't care if you are 15 or 115, rich or poor, male or female, what color your skin is, YOU can make an impact on this world with your life and be a leader.

God gives each of us passions, things that we develop a love for throughout our life. God gives each of us gifts, special abilities that come naturally to us. Throughout our life God opens and closes doors. It is through these passions we have, through the gifts we have received and developed, and through the opportunities that life presents us, that each person can make an impact on this world during the course of their life.

You see, God needs His children in every area of life. He calls His children to be teachers, doctors, scientists, astronauts, pilots, police officers, fire fighters, secretaries, bank tellers, garbage collectors, janitors, nurses, homemakers, car dealers, mechanics, farmers, politicians, entertainers, lawyers, writers, stock brokers, and any other profession you can name. Throughout the course of a person's life, God may call someone to do many different things. The point is, whatever career or profession you are in, you can make a difference. The key is to do your very best each day and realize that your lifematters.

***Those who know Christ as their Savior have been called to lead. The most common way we lead is by example, how we live our lives each day before this lost world we are part of for this brief time.

Of course, no matter how much we may accomplish in our life, our greatest legacy will be those lives we touch for Christ along our journey. You see my friend, no matter what your passions may be, what your gifts may be, what career or occupation you have, we all have the same purpose in this life. That is to serve and glorify God with our lives. All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify Him. The money we accumulate, the property we own, all of the things of this world will one day pass away, but those lives we impact for Christ will last for eternity!

I love you and care about you so much. Paul had a full life and used his life to make a difference in this world for Christ. Paul was a real leader of men. The example from his life I want to challenge you with today is that YOU can make a difference in this world too, regardless of the career or occupation you are in. The key is to wake up each morning, do the very best you can, and as God opens doors in your life be bold enough to walk through them. In these last days God needs men and women with the courage and spiritual guts to lead!

Never forget that no matter where God may have you working during each season of your life, He has placed you there as His ambassador. You are not there by accident, but God has placed you where you are in life to share with others you meet along your journey the hope and love of Jesus Christ and the Truth of His Word. That will be your real legacy when this brief journey is over, those lives you impact for Christ.

The reality of this life is that one day, sooner than any of us expect, it will be over. At that moment we will be instantly in the presence of God our Creator (2 Cor 5:8). At that moment, God is not going to be interested in the name of the church you attended, what your job was in this life, how much money you have, or how many buildings have your name on them. No my friend, the only thing God is going to be interested in is do you have a personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. For those who do, God will say, "enter into my rest." AMEN!

My word to you today is this. Go out and make an impact in this world in whatever God has called you to do with your life. Make your life matter! Be a leader! Never forget that you have been called to serve and glorify Christ with your life and your lasting legacy will be those lives you touch and lead to Jesus along your journey!

Plan of Salvation: http://www.liveprayer.com/plan.cfm

In His love and service,

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller