Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Bribes and favor Monday, March 24, 2008 Matthew 28:11-20 (After their encounter with the angel) some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.' And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble" ... The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them ... Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." The leaders of the church counseled with each other and told the soldiers to lie. And if the soldiers got in trouble, the leaders would lie to get them out of it. To be more sure of the lies, the church leaders paid the soldiers. Jesus counseled with his Father and told his followers to pass on what they'd been given. Speak the truth in every corner of the world. He had no money to give them to buy traveling mercies. But he did promise them the "holy Spirit." James tells his readers to call the elders of the church in times of sickness (James 5:14). I wouldn't be calling these elders. They are fearful, shortsighted, self-protective and divisive. Jesus, on the other hand, asks his disciples to stretch their vision to equal his. He wants them to look toward the "end of the age." He will always be with them. He draws them together with him in unity. He empowers them to speak and act for him. Jesus defined leadership as servanthood. The more serving I do, the more qualified I am to lead. There is no getting around this. Anytime I'm leading anything, including church, I can be just as full of self-protective rationalizations as the chief priests were who condemned Jesus. The only way I avoid their fate is to serve and share and give away, just as Jesus did. Just as Jesus said. It's the only way to make disciples, or to be one. The work week begins for many of us today, Lord. Make serving others my greatest desire. "; Add      Edit    Delete