NOVEMBER 27.

SHARING YOUR FAITH.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that G.o.d would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

COLOSSIANS 4:2-4.

PAUL UNDERSTOOD that evangelism is successful only if G.o.d leads us, opens doors, and motivates us by reminding us of the wonder of the gospel message. Paul was tough as nails, but he recognized that telling others about Christ is a partnership between us and G.o.d, and G.o.d has to do the heavy lifting!

Throughout his career, Paul had learned to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading. He went to Macedonia because the Holy Spirit led him, and he didn't go other places because the Spirit blocked the door (see Acts 16:6-10). An open door, Paul realized, is essential, and it wasn't good enough for him to use a bulldozer to knock the door down. He had to pray, listen intently, and follow the Spirit's directions.

Paul was gripped with the wonder of the gospel. He never got over his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, and it shaped his life until the day he died. The love and forgiveness of G.o.d weren't neat, formulaic doctrines; they were life and breath imparted to him by Jesus-truths that propelled him from city to city to tell anyone who would listen about Christ, no matter what the consequences, which included beatings, whippings, and imprisonment.

In our lives, it's easy to leave evangelism to the professionals. Certainly, we can bring people to church to hear a great message, but we can also ask G.o.d for open doors with family and friends. When the time is right and the Spirit leads us, we can tell people what Jesus has done in our lives. We may not be as articulate as the preacher, and we may not be able to answer all the questions, but that's okay. People just want to know if our faith is real-and we're the only ones who can show them it is.

Take a few minutes to ask G.o.d for an open door to share your faith with particular people who are on your heart.

Write an outline of what you will tell them when G.o.d opens the door. Write about what your life was like before you trusted Christ, the event when you trusted Him, and the difference He has made in your life.

"Since the Lord in the great commission clearly tells us to 'Go ye therefore into all the world, teaching and preaching,' I felt that not only was I instructed to do so but I wanted to do so. As a believer I felt I needed through my own life to be an example of my belief."-ZIG ZIGLAR

NOVEMBER 28.

LEADERS ARE LEARNERS.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

COLOSSIANS 2:6-7.

ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE TRAITS of a powerful leader is getting excited about learning a new skill or gaining fresh insights. Conversely, one of the most discouraging characteristics of some in leadership is a know-it-all mentality that walls them off from new ideas. Leaders who love to learn add enthusiasm and creativity to every meeting and every relationship, and they are great examples to others in the organization.

Spiritual life, like all other aspects of life and leadership, requires a rigorous commitment to learning and growing. When we stop growing, our momentum quickly fades, and we start the process of atrophy. Paul used three metaphors to describe the importance of continuing to learn in our spiritual lives: walking, being rooted, and being built up. The Christian life is often called a walk. A slow, steady, consistent pursuit of G.o.d and His will characterizes our lives. And, like the roots of a tree, we reach down deep into the truth and grace of G.o.d to find nourishment. Soaking up sustenance never stops, and even in times of drought, we find sources of strength if we've gone deep enough. And finally, like a st.u.r.dy building, each choice we make to honor G.o.d is a block in the structure of our spiritual experience. We grow stronger with each G.o.d-honoring decision.

How much is enough? When can we coast? Don't bother to ask for Paul's answers to questions like these. He never quit his relentless pursuit of G.o.d, and he warned that we can never put our lives on cruise control. Learning was central in his life until the day he died. In his last letter to Timothy shortly before he was executed, Paul told him, "Bring me the books I left with you" (see 2 Timothy 4:13). He was probably reading them as the ax fell.

What happens to us when we stop learning?

What are you doing right now to keep walking, going deeper, and growing stronger?

"Life is a cla.s.sroom. Only those who are willing to be lifelong learners will move to the head of the cla.s.s."-ZIG ZIGLAR

NOVEMBER 29.

GETTING BACK TO WORK.

It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that G.o.d had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

NEHEMIAH 4:15.

IF THE MEASURE OF A MAN is how much it takes to get him to quit, then Nehemiah would rank near the top of anyone's list. Nothing could keep this guy down! He began with an almost impossible task, and his "staff members" were all demoralized. He had rallied them to get them started rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, but they soon encountered betrayal from their own ranks and opposition from outside.

At one point, some locals insulted the builders to discourage them. When that didn't work and the building continued, they plotted to attack Nehemiah's builders. The people got wind of the impending danger, and they came close to panic. Nehemiah, though, coolly and calmly gave orders to deploy the people so that they felt responsible for those near them. "Don't be afraid," he told them. "Remember the greatness of G.o.d and fight for your families!" (see Nehemiah 4:14).

Nehemiah's leadership saved the day. He had kept them working through all the opposition until now, but at this critical moment, he told them to focus their attention on defending their families from attack. The enemies found out that Nehemiah had put steel in the backbones of his people, so they gave up. Immediately, Nehemiah told the people to go back to work on the walls.

Couldn't they take a break? How about a few days off to celebrate and regroup? No, Nehemiah knew that the best thing for them was to get back to work. They wouldn't be safe until the walls were rebuilt, and they couldn't afford to waste time.

As leaders, our first instinct shouldn't be to take a break after a success. Sometimes, it's appropriate, but often, people need to get back to work so they can capitalize on their success.

When is taking a break a good thing to do? When is it best to get back to work immediately?

Describe Nehemiah's leadership style.

"The degree of hope you manifest by persevering through obstacles becomes a measure of your pa.s.sion."-ZIG ZIGLAR

NOVEMBER 30.

INTEGRITY.

[The Lord] chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

PSALM 78:70-72.

WE KNOW KING DAVID as one of the most gifted leaders the world has ever known. His bravery inspired incredible exploits by the Mighty Men, his battle strategy won many conflicts, and he welded the divided kingdom back together with his diplomatic skill. If we look back to his younger years, we find that his leadership skills and character were shaped during years of obscurity on the hillsides tending sheep.

During those seemingly empty years, how many times did David wonder if his life would ever amount to anything? Day after day and night after night, he paid attention to the task before him. He led the sheep to better pastures and fresh water, and he killed a lion and a bear that attacked them. Alone with his thoughts, he prayed, reflected, and developed literary skill as he wrote his prayers to G.o.d. When the time came for David to act to rescue Israel from Goliath and the Philistines, his heart was strong and his hands had been trained. He was ready.

Some of us find ourselves living and serving in obscurity. Many of our friends and colleagues have pa.s.sed us up, and we're tempted to feel abandoned and quit trying. David's example helps us stay in the game, to sharpen our skills and strengthen our hearts so we're ready when the time comes to act.

Will you be ready?

Describe times in your life when you felt pa.s.sed by. How did you respond?

What are some things you can do to sharpen your skills and strengthen your heart?

"Integrity gives you real freedom because you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide."-ZIG ZIGLAR

December.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31.

DECEMBER 1.

HE MADE IT ALL.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

JOHN 1:3.

WHEN JOHN PENNED THESE WORDS in the first century, he and some of his readers had been eyewitnesses to the life of Christ. One of their tasks of faith was to hold Christ's humanity in one hand and His divinity in the other, something we also must do. We must remember that the One who was born in a stable, grew up in a carpenter's house, and walked among people on earth-eating, sleeping, sweating, and ultimately dying a horrible death-is the same One who created the entire universe and existed long before the earth was formed! Our faith is stunted if we fail to grasp both aspects of His nature.

When we allow both Christ's humanity and His divinity to amaze us, our trust in G.o.d soars. When we focus on G.o.d's stooping so low as to become a human being because He loved us and wanted to connect with us on our level, we're astounded. The Creator of the universe subjected Himself to abuse, ridicule, misunderstanding, betrayal, physical pain, spiritual abandonment, and ultimately death. This King of kings argued with rigid, self-righteous leaders who should have known better, and He defended the weak and powerless. By looking at His amazing life on earth, we can conclude that He genuinely understands the pain we experience, and we can believe that He must really love us.

Christ, the Son of G.o.d, wasn't limited by time, s.p.a.ce, and a human body before He became a man, and He isn't limited in any way today. His power is infinite, His knowledge complete, and He is present everywhere in the universe all the time.

Humanity and divinity. The combination amazes us, and both are essential to our faith.

What amazes you about Christ's humanity? about His divinity?

How is your faith challenged and strengthened by both of these traits?

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator I have not seen."-RALPH WALDO EMERSON "Time in the civilized world is measured by His birth. It's either BC or AD. This is proper because He is Alpha and Omega-the beginning and the end."-ZIG ZIGLAR

DECEMBER 2.

ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT.

My dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

PHILIPPIANS 4:1, NLT.

SOMETIMES WE THINK OF PAUL as a grim, determined adventurer who kept going no matter what dangers and obstacles he encountered. Certainly, he was fiercely dedicated to the cause G.o.d had given him, but from time to time, he gives us a glimpse of another side of his personality. As he concludes his letter to the Philippians, he tells them that they mean the world to him. How does he communicate his heart? Twice in the same verse, he shares that they are "dear" to him, and he says that they are his joy and crown. They were his joy because their faith in Christ and their generosity to him delighted him, and they were his crown because on the day Paul stands before Christ to give an account for his life, he can point to them as evidence of his faithfulness.

What are the messages we give those around us? Some of us communicate warmth and affection, but many of us feel uncomfortable telling people we love them. Paul, perhaps the toughest guy in the New Testament, exuded affection for people. He wasn't the least bit threatened by displays of love.

Statements of love, though, have to come from the heart. If they're fake, they result in resentment, not trust. We need to focus on G.o.d's love for us and for the people around us, asking G.o.d to give us His eyes to see them, and then we can take steps to communicate the love He gives us for them. That's not phony. It's the real thing, and it changes lives.