DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: MARCH 26 LESSONS FROM JESUS’ INVITATIONS (1) SCRIPTURE: ECCLESIASTES 3: 16
The three invitations Jesus extended; to Peter and Andrew his brother, the one to those thirsty for water and that to those who labour and heavy laden have leadership lessons for us human beings. The invitation to Peter and Andrew revealed how insightful Jesus is as a developing leader. That of inviting those who thirst introduced Jesus as a great Care-Giving Leader. His invitation to those who labour and heavy laden could be appropriate for equity justice and freedom giving Leader. Jesus saw that Peter and Andrew were fishermen, but the profession will take them no where. He rather saw potentials of bringing human beings into discipleship of heaven in them. He asked them to follow Him for He will make them fishers of men. This revealed that Jesus has insight to know in-built leadership qualities in people and what to do to turn people around for lucrative leadership and businesses. In summary, Jesus is a justice and loving giving leader. He corrects where there is wickedness in place of righteousness (Eccl, 3: 16).
Jesus’ invitation to those who are thirsty brings out a “Care-Giving Leader” in Him. Jesus Christ is so graced that in large crowd of people, He could see who desired to be cared for. Jesus is in the business of seeking for the needy, afflicted and rejected to give them worthiness of life. It was in a large crowd He saw hungry people, sitting under His teaching without complaining. He would feed 5000 and 4000 people respectively. A People oriented leader ought to be very mindful of what his/her followers lack in life. Discerning what those one leads need, feeling their pains and providing them with solutions is what all human leaders should aspire to be. When Jesus saw that most of the people in the feast of the Tabernacle lack life-giving water and Spirit giving water, He called them out with promise of giving them.
The two invitations of Jesus here are informing us that we should aspire to leadership quality that will make give people under us quality, quantitative and durable things they need for life. It is good to give people under you free money and foods with other essential amenities. However, it is more rewarding to train people, train them and equip them in areas that will give them long term benefits and continuous foods on their tables. Peter and Andrew followed Jesus. He made them. That is, He sought out what they lacked to be fishers of men. He discovered their potentials and develop them as well as empowering them. Today their names are in the largest read book of the earth. All those who went to Jesus thirsting for the Living Word of God got it and till today, out of the bellies of these people we are still drinking the living water of Salvation. If Jesus did it, we too can do it!
PRAYER:
FATHER GOD, reveal to me what people around me need to transform them to be self-dependent in this world in the name of Jesus. Jehovah Lord, inspire our leaders in churches to raise up more men, women and youths above who they are in the name of Jesus Christ.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
