datethewordtest

Tag: February 17th

  • A Call To Actions

    1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

    As Peter has been providing instructions to believers he decides to give a quick summation writing “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”  Talk about covering lots of areas in one verse we sure get a lot of actions to take.  We will look to break down each action so that we might put them into action.  

    First, we are to honor all people.  The idea is that every person has dignity and is to be treated with dignity. 

    You might recall that Jesus was adamant that we do not disrespect any person. Matthew 5:21 says, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22  “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”  

    We are never to devalue what God has valued and every person is valuable to God because His Son died for everyone everywhere. 

    Secondly, we are to Love the brotherhood.  We are to love one another.  It will be by our love for one another that others will know we are Christ–followers.  I have said it before and I say it again, the time a person needs love the most is when they deserve it the least.  Peter says to love one another fervently!

    Third, Fear God!  As Peter instructs us about how we treat people he also tells us how we are to treat God. While all people are to be treated with RESPECT, God is to be treated with REVERENCE.  And remember that when we come to the bottom line of what life is all about, Solomon wrote FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS COMMANDS!  

    Fourth, Honor the King.  Those in authority are to be shown RESPECT.  We don’t worship the authority but we do respect the authority.  And on this President’s Day in America we are reminded to PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY.   1 Timothy 2:1 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

    Ultimately, as Christians, we view God and people differently as all people are to be treated with dignity and shown love.  Human authority is to be shown RESPECT and God is to be shown REVERENCE.  

    LOVE IS NOT RUDE!  It is not rude to people, authority, or even God!

    Continue Strong with respect for all and reverence for God,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Casting the Vision

    Nehemiah 2:17 “Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies in waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 

    As one reads the Book of Nehemiah we encounter a man daring to dream a dream that will make life better for others!  Miles away in a palace in Shushan. Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king. heard the horrible conditions of a place (Jerusalem) and a people (the Jews). He heard that the walls of Jerusalem remained broken down and that gates that were burnt down had never been replaced. This left the people living there in great distress.  As he hears what is broken, his heart is broken, and he is moved to take action to make a difference.  He will ultimately receive permission from his boss (the king) to go to Jerusalem.  Upon arriving, he will see first-hand the horrible conditions, which was even more heart-wrenching.  He knows this cannot continue.  Changes must happen and it must happen now, regardless of obstacles and opposition.  He is determined to end the great distress of people.  He dares to dream!

    The story of Nehemiah is very inspiring, is it not? We have a man who hears and sees a people and a place in great distress and he dreams of doing something that will make a difference so people will have better lives!  As he dreams of making this difference, he realizes that one is too small of a number to make a difference. (Thank you Dr. John Maxwell for the powerful thought).  He knows he must have help.  The dreamer must become a recruiter.  While he has the cause he must now cast the vision for others to join.  Nehemiah’s dream has to move from “my dream” to “our dream.”  As he has decided to own the dream, he must get others to own the dream!  He must now cast the vision!

    Today’s verse is the casting of that vision.  It is the communication of the concerns that have created the cause and call for others to commit to the dreamer’s cause and make the dream, the cause, their cause. Re-read Nehemiah 2:17. It says, “Then I (Nehemiah) said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 

    I have no idea if Nehemiah had a speech class.  I don’t know if he read a book on how to be an effective communicator. What I do know is Nehemiah 2:17 sets the standard for how someone is supposed to cast a vision.  

    For those who are leaders and those who want to learn to be a leader, you are going to have to clearly and concisely communicate the vision, the dream, and the cause that God has given you to people. Yes, to people.  People, your people, have to see what you see! I recommend that you study Nehemiah, especially Nehemiah 2:17.  In this one verse a leader gives a clear, concise explanation of the concerns with a clear, concise call for a commitment to bring in others to join in the cause to bring about the needed change.  Nehemiah reveals the cause (rebuild the walls) and gives reasons to commit to being involved (that we may no longer be a reproach) with a clear, concise call for others to commit to the cause (come and let us.)

    How are you at casting vision?  Evaluate yourself by how Nehemiah did it.  

    A leader’s responsibility is to create the future.  Communicating clearly the cause is crucial to involving others to commit, and answering the call to action!

    Continue Strong, 
    And remember to DATE The Word