Romans 1:21-25 The Origin of Idolatry (#LetterToTheRomans)

"Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23). There are three stages involve from suppressing the truth about God to idolatry. What are they? ⛔ #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheOriginOfIdolatry

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Angelus' Quote: Most Common Cost of Leadership

One of the most common costs of leadership is the experience of rejection. I can list all day on how many rejections I get over the years. From bosses, colleagues, students, families, friends, churches and others. If you are willing to accept the call to leadership in your generation, you must be willing to be rejected and misunderstood by all (Btw, don't play the victim games, sometimes the rejection is fair).

It is said that no man is ever fully accepted until he has first of all been utterly rejected. If you depend on or need the agreement of everyone around you in order to feel secure, you will never be an excellent leader. Why? Because true leaders affect change and change by its very nature will 'spark' conflict and resistance. Rejection does not mean you are wrong (again, sometimes you are wrong. So, apologize), but it does indicate that you are challenging others to change 😉🤗💪

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John C. Maxwell on Leadership #15 Leaders Can't Take Rejection Personally

When your ideas are not received well by others, do your best to not take it personally. When someone in a meeting does that, it can kill the creative process, because at that point the discussion becomes about the person whose feelings are hurt. If you can stop competing and focus your energy on creating, you will open the way for the people around you to take their creativity to the next level.

If you don’t have any personal experience in the publishing world, then I’m guessing that you believe authors always select the titles of their books. While that may be the way it works for some authors, it has not been the case for me. I’ve written more than forty books, yet I think I’ve selected the titles for about a dozen of them.

A book is a pretty personal thing for an author. Why would I allow someone else to pick the title? Because I know my ideas aren’t always the best ideas. I often think they are, but when everyone in the room has a different opinion, it pays to listen. That’s why I’ve adopted the attitude that the company owner doesn’t need to win – the best idea does.

Be passionate about your work and have the integrity to stand up for your ideas. Without passion, you will not be taken seriously. When principle is involved, don’t budge. Most matters, though, involve taste or opinion, not principle. In these areas recognize that you can compromise. If you become someone who can never compromise, you will forfeit opportunities to those who can.

[The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization (2011) by John C. Maxwell. Published by Thomas Nelson]

Let the best ideas win to help the organization move forward.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Young Men, Consider the Head of Jesus

“On his head are many crowns”
(Revelation 19:12, NIV)

The head is the control tower of the body. From it, impulses and messages are transmitted to the farthest limb. It is the dominant part of the body. Our Lord’s head is mentioned several times in Scriptures, sometimes in its humiliation, sometimes in its exaltation.

He was a homeless head. “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). In these graphic words, Jesus indicated His rejection by His people. There was no bed for Him in the inn. Many were the night His head never touched a pillow. During His ministry, He had no home and was dependent on the hospitality of others.

But it was also an anointed head. In the extravagance of her love, Mary broke the priceless box of the fragrant anointing oil and poured it over His head (see Mark 14:3). Her act of love was to Him a green oasis in the dreary desert of rejection, a refreshing drought on the desolate road to the cross. Not everyone rejected Him.

His head was callously struck by His tormentors. “[They] twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head… They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again” (Matthew 27:29-30). The staff, mock royal scepter, was used to bruise and degrade the head of the Son of God. “He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). And those who struck Him were representative of us all.

His head was crowned in mockery (see Matthew 27:29). Thorns, a symbol of curse, adorned the brow of the Lord of glory, every thorn a point of fire.

“Is their diadem, as monarch,

That His brow adorns?

Yea, a crown, in very surety,

But of thorns”

(Author unknown)

“He bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). All through the ghastly ordeal of crucifixion, His head had remained erect. The curse broke His heart but did not bow His head. Now His work was finished.

Again we see His head in dazzling majesty. “His head was white like wool, as white as snow” (Revelation 1:14). It is again erect and radiant. Never again will He bow it before His creations. In His hand, there is no longer a mocking staff, but the scepter of universal dominion.

Our final view of His head is crowned with many crowns (Revelation 19:12). He is crowned with glory and honor, the reward of His obedience unto death.

[Edited, modified and modernized from considering Him (1976) by J. Oswald Sanders]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus, the Messiah turns the Enemies Upside Down

The Pharisees examined Jesus.

“Then the Pharisees, called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus” (Matthew 12:14, NLT).

“At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus” (Mark 3:6). “At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him” (Luke 6:11).

Putting these three Gospel accounts together – Matthew, Mark, Luke – we see that the Pharisees were furious with Jesus. At first these religious leaders had been merely curious about Jesus, but their curiosity turned to hatred. They were “wild with rage” because Jesus had openly confronted their authority and placed himself above them. Jesus had looked them in the eyes, flouted their laws, and exposed the hatred in their hearts to the entire crowd in the synagogue.

These Jewish religious leaders were so jealous of Jesus’ popularity, his miracles, and his authority that they missed who he was (and is) – the God-Messiah for whom they had been waiting. They refused to acknowledge Jesus because they were not willing to give up their treasured positions and power. When Jesus exposed their attitudes, he became their enemy, and they began looking for ways to destroy him. Ironically, they began planning on the Sabbath (context of the verses quoted above) to kill him. Their hatred drove them to plot murder – an act clearly against the law that they themselves defended.

Notice this, the Pharisees “met with the supporters of Herod.” This was unlikely (and unholy) alliance. This group, also called the “Herodians,” was made up of Jews who hoped to restore Herod the Great’s line to the throne, so they usually stood in direct conflict with the Jewish religious leaders. Those minority Jews supporters believed that intermediary rules by the Herods was better than direct Roman rule. (Most Jews, however, especially the Pharisees disapproved the Herods as rulers of Israel because they were originally an Edomite family. Edom was one of Israel ancient enemies.)  But Jesus threatened the authority of both groups – the Pharisees and the Herodians – common enemies suddenly became friend and began working together to rid themselves of this treat. Jesus, a single man, was their greatest treat, even today (In Malaysia, even though Christian’s total percentage is around 10%, the religious and government authorities sees us as “enemies”. They called our evangelism as “Christian’s agenda to apostate the Muslims.” This small minority is a national treat. Just like Jesus).

Think about this: Either Jesus is who he said he is, or he is a fraud. The Pharisees chose the latter. We who follow Jesus can also be seen as threats. When we stand up for truth and love, faith and mercy, compassion and justice, we will be opposed by many who profit from oppression and discrimination. We may even encounter opposition from religious leaders (ever among Christians) who see their grip loosening. Jesus turns the world’s values upside down, but his way is true and right. It is the only path to eternity. Pray to the Lord that you may give your wholehearted commitment to Jesus and his teachings, no matter what consequences arise from your obedience and loyalty. Remember, we follow the Truth and Truth can never be wrong. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.