Or maybe it is when we go to college, leave our parents’ homes, get jobs, find spouses, or any of the other things that seem to be the proverbial exit ramps of childhood. However, all of us know plenty of people that have conquered any or all of the above milestones, yet adulthood has still alluded them.

I think this is a huge issue in church. I have so many friends, most of them in their mid twenties, who are just floating through life. They are great people, who are making good choices, working good jobs, going to good churches, but no one has ever given them permission to grow up…so when it comes to church they are still waiting for everyone else to call the shots, take the lead, make a difference. 

I wonder why so many of us will spend our 20’s pouring our time, energy, passions, and talents into our careers, yet when it comes to church we are spectators at best? What would happen if we quit waiting for permission, quit complaining about the way things are, and quit offering our critiques? What would happen if we simply grew up, and allowed our lives to do the preaching?

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” – 1 Tim. 4:12

Is our generation leading the charge by setting an example for the believers in the way we talk, the way we live, the way we love, and the way we pursue purity? If not, what are we waiting for?

But I read a verse this afternoon that gives pretty amazing insight into the type of guy John the Baptist was.  The verse is simple, yet extraordinarily difficult to live out.

“He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:30

Let that verse resonate for a moment. I love that verse because it gives us such insight into the type of man John was. Even when given the perfect opportunity (large crowds, devoted followers, long lines at the book signings) John the Baptist always shunned self advancement. Instead of pointing to himself, he pointed to Jesus.

For John, it was all about Jesus. He avoided the trap of self glorification. He knew that he was simply God’s messenger, and robbing God of his glory was something that John was not interested in. In fact, when the crowds wanted to worship John, questioning whether or not he was the Messiah he said, “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much so that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals.”

For those of you that are in positions of leadership, when the crowds swell, when your resume grows, when people suddenly are interested in your opinion — how do you respond?

As I was reflecting on this verse I just started praying that God would help us to be like John. I pray that God will help us be people that give all the glory to God — not simply with our lips, but with our lives.

Is it truly your desire to become less, so that Jesus can become greater in your life?

I’m excited. For the next 5 days we will spend 15 hours a day praying, talking, praying, and talking some more. Pray that God shows Ethos exactly what he needs to us. Pray for the other 10 churches represented as well. The kingdom of God is expanding. You are apart of that. Take wonder in what God is doing.

I love you guys. So glad you are my brothers and sisters.

In this passage, God is upset because the leaders of Israel have failed to be good leaders. He is using the analogy of a shepherd, and basically God paints the picture of a bunch of lazy shepherds who are so consumed with taking care of themselves that that they fail to care for the ones who have been entrusted to them. 

“So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.” – Ezekial 34:5-6

1.) When leaders fail to be leaders, no matter what the reason is, the people find themselves drifting spiritually.
2.) When people find themselves drifting spiritually, they become easy prey for the enemy.
3.) When we notice that our people have wandered away and fallen prey to the enemy will we go and rescue them?

Will you Lead? Will search? Will you love?

Who are the people in your life that you have failed to lead? Who is wandering? Who do you need to go searching for this week? 

I don’t know about you, but I want to spend more time taking my cues from the Good Shepherd, and less time falling into the trappings of the shepherds in Ezekial. Love you guys.

 As we were leaving, a student who I didn’t really know, stopped us to talk for a moment. Even though we were in a hurry, we realized that our ultimate responsibility is with the students, so we stopped to answer a few of his questions. After about ten minutes of talking with him, and answering his questions, he ended the conversation by insulting Brandon and I. 

Brandon handled it like a champ. I did not. It crawled all over me. Brandon even laughed at me a little for allowing this guy to get under my skin. I stumbled across this post earlier in the week and it caused me to reflect on the “conflict” from Tuesday night.

Read 2 Samuel 16:5-14 sometime.  It’s entertaining and enlightening.
The recap:
-Someone curses King David
-One of David’s men volunteers to cut off the guy’s head
-David replies (in effect): “Let him curse me, God’s got my back.”

I long to have that kind of restraint and perspective.
I’m not there, but this is where I want to get as a leader.

After all, how will it hurt me if someone doesn’t agree with my theology?
Let them disagree…maybe I can even learn something from their disagreement.

Why get so emotionally revved when someone makes a false accusation about me?
Let them accuse…no weapon formed against me shall prosper.

I’d be a whole lot happier and exponentially more effective if I could learn to let things go, bolstered by the confidence that God has got my back. Those who are spiritually secure are able to hear the critical voice, filter and digest what’s helpful, process out the rest, and stay in the zone.

Finally, after Samuel had rejected all but one of Jesse’s sons, Jesse brought out his youngest son David — the one no one even consider as a possible candidate for kingship. Sure enough, God saw something in David that no one else could see. I have been thinking about this story today. Will our church choose leaders the way good businesses chose leaders? Will we rally around people the same way the world rallies around them? Or will we trust that God can truly see the heart, truly knows the capabilities of each individual, and will help us select the people He has prepared and not simply the people we are impressed by. 

Sometimes leaders are well spoken, well liked, and impressive. Sometimes they aren’t. God has a unique way of using everyone, especially the people we might least expect. Let’s pray and search for leaders the way that God was have us do this.

I pray that we pick the right men and women so that God will receive all of the glory. Have a nice Monday.