One Year Bible Reading Plan and Devotional
Today’s Bible Reading: January 4
Download the full one-year Bible reading plan here:
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
A Great Leader also Follows
Sometimes leaders need to be followers
Because I work in a leadership position, I’m constantly trying to learn new things about how to be a better leader. I constantly want to grow my leadership skills, know what God expects of me as a leader, and how can I grow those whom I lead to carry on the work that I currently do. One lesson I’ve learned is there are times where the leader has to be willing to follow.
If you’ve ever sat back and watched and observed a group of people, it usually doesn’t take long to identify the leaders and the followers. Everyone of us ends up being the leader at some point in life – even those who are quiet and shy. But there are some people who are just more prone to lead and some more prone to follow. Age doesn’t matter. Adults at work, teens at school, and kids in a kindergarten class or daycare playground will all have leaders and followers.
The same is true among siblings and within families. There are leaders and followers found in the sports team or cheer leading squad. They are at the office. They’re in politics and government offices. They’re within the church. And they’re found in criminal organizations. Some lead others toward excellence and some lead others into the path of sin and rebelliousness. Some follow good leaders and some follow bad. And sometimes leaders need to be followers.
Leaders must prepare the next leaders
As Jesus started his earthly ministry, he knew that part of being a leader was to prepare the next leaders. He knew His time on earth was limited and that He would return to Heaven once He accomplished God’s plan to redeem man. And so, he chose 12 men and said, “Follow me.” And for the next 3 1/2 years he would live with them, teach them, train them, and get them ready to spread the gospel message to every nation.
What if Jesus came to earth, died, was buried, and resurrected but no one was prepared to spread the news and tell others about His free gift of salvation? Jesus’ ministry on earth was to redeem man. He accomplished His mission. The disciple’s mission would be to spread the good news. Because Christianity is still thriving today, we know they accomplished their mission.
Who Is God Wanting You to Prepare?
Whatever leadership role God has called you to, what are you doing to train the next person to fill your shoes? If you are in a ministry role, who will carry on the ministry God has begun where you are? If God calls you to the next church or ministry organization, who will follow you in the work being done where you are now? What if God calls you home to heaven? Will you leave the team you are leading floundering without a leader? Will the flock you shepherd be left without a shepherd to care for them?
Jesus’ very first instructions to these 12 men was, “Follow me” for the purpose of preparing them to spread the gospel. Who have you invited to follow you so that you can mentor and train them to lead and continue the work God is doing when you are no longer there? Just as Jesus invited the disciple to “Follow me,” we have the responsibility to invite others to follow us and we have the even greater responsibility of leading them ever closer to Christ as we train them to carry on the work of the Kingdom of Christ.
“Follow Me”
Leaders know that whatever ministry, organization, or team they are leading, the responsibility falls on them – the buck stops with them. They make decisions, set goals, have a vision, strategically plan, create teams, assign tasks, and evaluate effectiveness – and they often get so caught up in leading that they forget Jesus’ first instruction: “Follow me.”
Whether you’re a church leader, non-profit leader, retail leader, or corporate leader, if you’re a Christian then Jesus’ first instruction is the same today. He says, “Follow Me.” If you are a leader, are you allowing Christ to lead you? Are you a leader that’s willing to follow the example of Jesus and submit to the will of God, obediently following His instructions to you? If the ministry, organization, or team had to score you on how well you are following the leadership of God, how would they score you?
What does it mean to follow?
What does it mean to follow? It means that you come after someone else. It can also mean that you follow them in the sense of seeing that person as an example or someone you look up to or admire. When kids play “Follow the leader” the “leader” does something and everyone else mimics the “leader.” 1 John 2:6 says, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” When Jesus told the disciples to follow him, he was inviting them to go on mission with Him, to learn from Him and do what He taught them. If those who follow you walked in the way in which you walked, is that a good thing or bad?
Leaders take the people following them…somewhere
There is another aspect to Jesus telling the disciples to follow Him that we as leaders can learn from. Leaders have to take the people following them somewhere. If you stay right where you are, then you’re not leading – you’re just joining in. Jesus was leading the disciples to grow in faith and to experience a relationship with God. As a leader, where are you taking the people who follow you? Are you leading them to Jesus?
Looking through the eyes of Jesus’ followers
There is also an important thing for leaders to see through the eyes of Jesus’ followers. With the exception of Judas who betrayed Jesus then hung himself, the other eleven disciples grew to love and respect Jesus so much that they changed their world as they took the gospel to every nation, starting churches wherever they went. They even died because they would not stop telling others about Jesus. They were so committed to Jesus and the task He gave them that they were willing to die so that others would know who Jesus was.
If you’re a leader, how do those who follow you see you? Are you a person they respect or hate? Are they committed to you because they see you as a person that seeks God’s will and know you to be a person that obeys God. Do they trust you to lead them as God leads you?
Jesus is our example of how to lead others
As leaders, we need to follow Jesus. He is our example of how to lead others. We should lead with the same character traits as Jesus did – love, loyalty, integrity, honesty, compassion, grace, forgiveness, humility, wisdom, sacrifice, giving, tenderness, accountability, instructing, and setting the example. If those who follow you scored you on an annual evaluation in each of these areas, what scores would they give you?
Lord, because you have called us to step out and lead, the responsibility is great and to be a great leader, we need to first be a follower. Thank you that you invite us to follow you and may we never forget that as a leader our greatest responsibility is to be a follower of you. May we lead others in such as way that we lead them to you. Show us from those you’ve appointed us to lead the ones you’d have carry on behind us and train them to continue you’re work. May we lead with the same character traits you did and may we ever be more like you. Be our example. Lead us Lord, because leading others is often difficult and messy and we can’t do it alone.
#ReadYourBible #Genesis #Matthew
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Visit our three retail experiences:
Tee of the Week: All Things New
The new year brings the reminds that God makes all things new – including us as we place our faith and trust in Him. Just as a caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly, God takes our old sinful beings and makes us a new creation in Him. Based on Rev 21:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. These two designs are on t-shirts, long-sleeved tees, mugs, bags, tumblers and more. Click the links to see all the available products in these two designs.
Do you have an event on the calendar and need a speaker?
We’re offering 30% off our speaker fees as our gift to you if you book any 2022 event with us by December 31, 2021. Call today and use the discount code: CHRISTMAS2021.
We’re excited to be a part of your ministry and can’t wait to see you – no matter what size your event.
904.239.8937
Visit our YouTube Channels for Christian playlists and our short animated devotionals.
Animated Devotionals
Contemporary Christian Music Playlist
Southern Gospel Playlist
Just Hymns
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars
by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars?
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on
- Conversation Starters
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
- Romance Builders
- Relationship Builders
- Personal reflections
- Date ideas
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
See our other recent posts:
904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL
Follow us on:
