Herod was the surname of a family of rulers who held power by permission of the Roman Empire. Herod the Great ruled at the time of Jesus’ birth; he’s the one who killed all the male babies in Bethlehem. Herod Antipas ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. The Herod in Acts 12 is Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great.

Herod’s lack of character provides us with many examples of what not to do as a leader:

1. He mistreated his own citizens (v. 1). He unjustly ordered the arrest of the Jewish believers in order to harass them.
2. He executed innocent people (v. 2). He had James killed by the sword, although he had committed no crime.
3. He made decisions based on popularity (v. 3). When he saw it pleased the Jews to kill James, he had Peter arrested, too.
4. He acted irrationally in difficult times (v. 19). He killed the 16 guards who had been on duty at the time of Peter’s prison escape.
5. He harbored anger toward others (v. 20). He remained angry toward outside ethnic groups and looked for ways to get even.
6. He sought power out of insecurity (v. 20). He enjoyed controlling others and especially loved having people at his mercy.
7. He projected an image of infallibility (vv. 21, 22). He loved wearing his royal garb and being worshiped.
8. His ego blinded him (v. 23). He lived in an unreal world and couldn’t see how his ego sabotaged his leadership.

How Do We Avoid Herod’s Trap?

To improve your character and build a solid foundation for your own leadership, you must:

1. Search for the cracks. Look at the major areas of your life. Identify where you’re weak or have taken shortcuts.
2. Look for patterns. Do any weaknesses remain? Patterns can help you diagnose character flaws.
3. Face the music. Character repair begins when you face your flaws and apologize to those you’ve wronged.
4. Stay teachable and rebuild. Once you face your past, create a plan to build inward strength.

Sometimes our ego blinds us. Things must be going too well. Using and practicing ways to improve our character to think more like a team and a community helps us feel more grounded. Great tips from John Maxwell.

Read all of Acts 12:1-23

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³ When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ After arresting him, he put him in prison and handed him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. ¹³ Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

¹⁸ In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

Herod’s Death

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. ²⁰ He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.

²¹ On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. ²² They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” ²³ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

The whole church enjoyed unity and generosity, and it all started at the top. The example of the apostles spread a spirit of generosity throughout the whole church. Unfortunately, a couple of pretenders, Ananias and Sapphira, sold some land and gave part of the proceeds to the apostles, reporting that they had given all the money to the church. God revealed their deception to Peter, and he called them on it. Their sin was not lack of generosity, but lack of honesty. They lied about what they had done. They wanted to be thought of as generous without paying the price.

God would have nothing to do with it. He surgically removed the spiritual cancer from the church by taking their lives. “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things,” Luke says (Acts 5:11).

Let’s look more closely at the problem and itemize it. Ananias and Sapphira…

1. Clung to their possessions.
2. Agreed to lie about their giving.
3. Pretended to be someone they were not.
4. Thought they could get by with appearing to be generous.
5. Felt more concerned with their image than their relationship to God.

Many leaders struggle with the same issues. Not only do we live in a materialistic world, but we buy into the world’s economy. We think that if we grasp and cling to our possessions through our own cleverness, we will eventually “make it.” God’s economy is radically different. He is an extravagant Lord who gives generously to everyone with a need. He enjoys meeting the needs of His followers, directly or indirectly. He doesn’t merely give of His resources, but of Himself.

Building Generosity into Your Life

Nothing speaks more loudly to others or serves them better than a leader’s generosity. Effective leaders gather for others, then give it away. Consider several ways to cultivate generosity in your own life:

1. Be grateful for whatever you have.
2. Put people first.
3. Don’t allow greed to control you.
4. Regard money as a resource.
5. Develop the habit of giving.

Sometimes we hold on to our possessions because we fear we might run out – life seems scarce. But when we believe that giving is the way to live, we will produce more in the future – life seems abundant. This is the life Jesus had in mind for us (John 10:10).

Little steps towards generosity go a long way. I noticed my cat’s favorite toy had a hole in it. I took a moment to be generous and patched the hole. He shows his generosity by playing more with it and is glad it is lasting longer.

Show more awareness of how you can apply it in more areas of your daily life.

Acts 5:1-11

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

While Peter emphatically denied Christ around a little courtyard fire, that moment merely expressed the condition of his heart. His commitment level had already drained away in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, he felt helpless, powerless to maintain the promise he had made (Matt. 26:35).

When our commitment drains away, we follow the same progression as Peter:

Stage 1: His following became distant. “Peter followed at a distance” (Luke 22:54). This is not what Jesus had in mind in Matthew 16:24). This is not what Jesus had in mind in Matthew 16:24. Peter is still following Christ, but incognito. He’s no longer ready to die.

Stage 2: His fellowship became divided. “Peter sat among them” (22:55). Now the guilty disciple is mixing with an uncommitted crowd. He’s a man without a country. He’s torn between the apathetic and the committed.

Stage 3: His faith became deluded. “But he denied Him, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know Him'” (22:57). His words now reveal his weakness, even among men and women who pose no immediate threat to him.

Stage 4: His fervor became denial. “But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are saying!'” (22:60). Peter rejects any association with Jesus. His words no longer display apathy, but rejection.

Levels of Commitment

Jesus always related to people at the level of commitment they were ready to make. Note the four levels of commitment in Jesus’ disciples:

Level One: Come and See

This is the level of curiosity (see John 1:35-51). At this stage, Jesus’ interaction is light and easy. When people are here, look for chemistry and faithfulness.

Level Two: Come and Follow

This is the level of commitment (see Luke 5:1-11). Jesus’ words now call for some commitment. The person is ready to be challenged. Look for hunger and teachability.

Level Three: Come and Surrender

This is the conviction level (see Mark 8:34,35). This step is appropriate only after a deep relationship and mutual trust have developed. Look for initiative and determination.

Level Four: Come and Multiply

This is the commissioned level (see Matt. 28:19,20). Here, Jesus calls His men to reproduce what He did with them. Look for leadership and people skills.

Great tips from John Maxwell for understanding the different stages and levels. This helps evaluate your relationships and how to improve them.

Luke 22:54-62

Peter Disowns Jesus

⁵⁴ Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

⁵⁸ A little later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Everyone knows that leaders must demonstrate competence to earn the trust and respect of their followers. No one chooses to follow an incompetent leader over a competent one, regardless of personality. Friendships are not synonymous with leadership; people can like you as a friend but not follow you as a leader. To the degree they feel you as a leader. To the degree they feel you are incompetent to lead, they will distance themselves from your leadership.

Competence goes beyond words. It’s the leader’s ability to say it, plan it, and do it in such a way that others know you know your business – and know that they want to follow you. Competence must be sought at every organizational level. Incompetence can be tolerated nowhere. John Gardner once wrote, “The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.”

Jesus highlights the issue of competence in the two stories recounted in Luke 14. In both stories, what is missing is competence. The builder and the king in these stories lacked what it took to get the job done. Therefore, the tower never got built, and the war was never won. According to Jesus, competence requires three ingredients:

1. Commitment – Jesus said our commitment to Him must look like disdain for everyone else. We must pick up our cross and follow Him.
2. Resources – Jesus spoke about a builder calculating whether he had enough to finish a tower. Determine whether your resources, gifts, talents, and abilities are available to do the job.
3. Intelligence – Jesus spoke about a king seeking counsel to know whether he should go to battle. Part of competence is the insight to know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

The combination of these three components spells not only competence, but excellence. It’s what makes people follow a leader. So – in what area are you most competent? Where do you excel? What makes others follow you?

Great questions and thoughts from John Maxwell. It forces me to think about my strengths and what others around me have mentioned they like to build on. Keep building your resources to deepen your use of your intelligence and tools.

Luke 14:28-32

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

John needed passion to fulfill his God-given calling. Every pioneer needs passion. Pioneers cannot be satisfied with mere maintenance, for they have nothing yet to maintain. They create from nothing. The common folk often view them as eccentric – but their passion attracts other pioneers.

What gave John his passion?

1. He spent time in solitude. Before John began his public ministry, he lived in the wilderness and spent much time with God. He boiled with the presence of God and could hardly stay quiet.
2. He felt consumed with his mission. John knew of Jesus’ identity and His soon-coming advent. John urgently tried to prepare the way for Him.
3. He possessed a magnetic temperament and wiring. John is described as a voice crying out (Luke 3:4) and as an exhorter (3:18). Like a magnet, he repelled some and attracted others.
4. He possessed a strong sense of justice. When people asked John what they should do, he told them to do justice (3:10-14). This hunger for justice drove him. He wouldn’t sit still until he saw results.
5. He saw things as black and white. Like others with prophetic gifts, John saw most issues as either black or white. While this may sound narrow to most pastors or businesspeople, it is part of what gave John his passion.
6. He felt dissatisfied with anything but action. John was a doer. He didn’t want people to merely talk about repentance and faith. He told the Pharisees they should bring forth fruit to prove their repentance.

Passion makes for an effective ministry. So how can you increase your passion?

1. Take your temperature. Get an honest assessment from coworkers: Are you passionate about what you do? You can’t start a fire in your organization unless it first burns in you.
2. Return to your first love. Many leaders allow life to push them off track. Think back to when you first began your career. What drove you? What made you enthusiastic?
3. Associate with people of passion. Birds of a feather flock together. Hot coals stay hot when they remain in the fire. Find passionate people and let them rub off on you.

People who have a passion show it strongly. Great thoughts of passionate leadership from John Maxwell.

Luke 3:2-22

during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
⁶ And all people will see God’s salvation.’”^[a]

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

¹⁰ “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

¹¹ John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

¹⁴ Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[b] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” ¹⁸ And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

¹⁹ But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, ²⁰ Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Israel, gives us a sad example of a leader who failed to take responsibility. When Jesus appeared before him for judgment, he could find nothing wrong with Him. Yet instead of judging Him as innocent, he succumbed to the pressure of the crowd. Sensing they wanted to punish an innocent man, he gave them a choice: Barabbas or Jesus? When they wrongly chose Jesus as the more guilty man, Pilate walked over to a basin of water and tried to wash his hands of any responsibility for his decision. He pretended he could evade ownership of the consequences. Pilate committed the sin of omission and tried to get off on a legal technicality.

None of this surprised the Jews, since Pilate had a history of such behavior. He tended to withdraw whenever things heated up. Once he put the Roman eagle in the temple, prompting 5,000 Jews to march to his vacation home to demand he remove it. He called in the army and demanded that they leave. When they refused, he threatened to cut off their heads. The Jews got down on their knees, in essence saying, “Go ahead!” Shocked by their moral conviction, he backed down. From that point on, the Jews knew this man lacked a backbone and would run from responsibility. He illustrates moral and political compromise.

Just why did Pilate “wash his hands” of responsibility?

1. He had a problem with foundations (v. 22). Pilate never forged the character to withstand adversity. Conflict paralyzed him.
2. He had a problem with futility (vv. 23, 24). He perceived that no good would come from a right decision, so why waste time? Apathy proliferates when we sense that action seems useless.
3. He had a problem with fear (v. 24). Pilate felt preoccupied with survival. If he fought the Jews, he feared the loss of control, image, or position. His wife’s warning added fuel to his fear.
4. He had a problem with failure (v. 24). Pilate knew a riot was brewing. The last time it happened, he failed to rise to the occasion, and the Jews called his bluff. They knew he worried more about failure than they did.
5. He had a problem with focus (v. 24). Leaders cannot be neutral or passive over crucial decisions. Pilate picked up a basin and tried to wash his hands of the whole mess. No good leader does this.

Devotional by John Maxwell. Matthew 27:11-31 teaches how you can learn from these leaders to be stronger in your responsibility.

Jesus Before Pilate

¹¹ Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

¹² When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” ¹⁴ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶ At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus^[a] Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” ¹⁸ For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to be crucified.

1. They don’t provide security for others.
2. They take more than they give.
3. They continually limit their best people.
4. They continually limit or sabotage their organization’s success.
5. They spend more energy trying to keep their job than doing their job.

Effective leadership begins with an emotionally and spiritually healthy leader. Why is this true? Why must we focus on our personal security? Consider several reasons:

1. Leadership must flow out of “being,” not merely “doing.”
2. Strong character is necessary to sustain strong conduct.
3. Insecure leaders cause their organizations to plateau.
4. Personal security provides the infrastructure to support leaders in adversity.
5. Insecure leaders will never empower and develop secure followers.
6. Inward strength provides the only hope of finishing well.

Most of us struggle with feelings of insecurity. Leadership roles, however, work like a magnifying glass on our personal insecurity, blowing everything out of proportion because we know everyone is watching. We tend to react by trying to cover up our flaws, rather than being honest. This is yet another reason why leaders must commit to laying a strong foundation for personal security.

None of us ever grows beyond four fundamental human needs:

1. A sense of Worth – if missing, we feel inferior.
2. A Sense of Belonging – if missing, we feel insecure.
3. A Sense of Purpose – if missing, we feel illegitimate.
4. A Sense of Competence – if missing, we feel inadequate.

How then should we respond to these crucial issues?

1. Leaders should settle this issue with God before they reach positions of influence.
2. Our personal worth and security must come from our “secret history” with God.
3. We should never place our emotional health in the hands of another.
4. We must release people from the expectation that they will meet our basic needs.

We become healthy leaders only when we don’t expect others to meet the needs that only God can meet.

Devotional thoughts of John Maxwell. This reminds me to really evaluate on how I respond to issues, threats, and things people are looking for reactions to. Standing strong and using these leadership skills shows that we are really skilled in knowing others needs first.

Matthew 2:1-18

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’^[b]”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”^[c]

¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”^[d]

Why Do We Fail to Initiate?

It seems easier to run from a challenge than to step out and take a risk. When we initiate, we commit ourselves to a direction. We may feel uncertain about what the future holds. What if we change our minds? What if we fail in front of our followers? We run from commitment and initiative for a variety of reasons.

Reason 1. We are afraid we’ll be unable to keep the commitment.

Issue – Low sense of security.

Reason 2. We suspect we might find “greener grass” somewhere else.

Issue- Paralyzed will

Reason 3. We expend time and energy only for personal gain.

Issue – No surrender

Reason 4. Our past makes trust difficult.

Issue – Emotional baggage.

Reason 5. We are lazy and unmotivated.

Issue – Apathy and neutrality

Reason 6. We fear rejection.

Issue – Poor self-esteem.

Reason 7. We fear the unknown and the unfamiliar.

Issue – Low confidence.

Reason 8. We don’t want to lose our freedom.

Issue – Entitlement philosophy

Reason 9. We fear being different from others.

Issue – Politically correct.

Reason 10. We don’t really know who we are.

Issue – Gifts and calling.

Jonah had to learn initiative. It started with learning submission to God. Once we surrender to His call on our lives and leadership, we can step out to follow Him. We can take risks because our future lies in His hands. Once Jonah submitted to God’s call, he saw all kinds of results. What happens when we accept God’s call to initiate and commit?

1. We assume healthy personal responsibility (1:12).
2. We’ll likely see many come to faith in God (1:13-16).
3. We receive a God-given time and place to gain perspective (1:17).
4. We deepen our experience of worship and prayer (2:1-9).
5. We progress toward a new level of personal freedom (2:10).
6. We enjoy partnership with God (3:1-9).
7. We gain the satisfaction of seeing changed lives (3:10).

Great initiative of John Maxwell to push us to take the initiative in our loyalty towards the Lord. Be more aware of why you step back and what it will take to move forward.

Jonah 2:10-3:10

¹⁰ And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

³ Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. ⁴ Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” ⁵ The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

⁶ When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. ⁷ This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. ⁸ But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. ⁹ Who knows? God may yet relent and, with compassion, turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

¹⁰ When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

God gave the king a vision of a huge tree, chopped down by an angel. The tree represented him. God removed him from his position and drove him into the wilderness to live like an animal. His hair and fingernails grew long; he ate the same diet as the beast of the field; he dwelt in caves and dirt shelters. And he stayed out there until he fully recognized God as the supreme Ruler of the world. He had to learn submission, relinquish control and power, and become teachable.

Fortunately, God’s discipline worked. Once the king returned to the palace, he became a different man. He no longer laid claim to sovereignty or wisdom. He perceived his greatness as God-given (Dan. 4:36). He sought to honor God rather than himself as the source of every good thing (4:37). Notice how Nebuchadnezzar developed a teachable spirit:

1. Grateful Words – The king expressed appreciation and blessing for God’s grace and mercy.
2. Hungry Mind – The king possessed a passion and hunger for personal growth.
3. Big-picture Perspective – The king saw things from a new, larger viewpoint.
4. Dissatisfaction with the Present – The king did not feel content with the status quo or mediocrity.
5. Humble Heart – The king expressed humility regarding his own importance and power.
6. Magnetic Spirit – The king began once more to attract nobles and counselors.

How about you? Are you a teachable leader? Do you want to dictate to the people or the circumstances from whom you will learn, or will you learn from anyone? Consider a few steps to improve your teachability:

1. Don’t believe your own press. The greatest enemy of tomorrow’s success is today’s. Don’t get distracted by your achievements.
2. Observe how you react to mistakes. Do you admit them when you make them? Do you apologize or get defensive? Get honest about your needs.
3. Try something new. When was the last time you did something for the first time? Challenges change us for the better and keep us learning.
4. Grow in the area of your strength. Read books on leadership and in your area of giftedness. Don’t be satisfied with where you are today. Keep stretching.

Applying teachability can be challenging when you get into your own traditions and standards for how you do things. Work on stepping out of the comfort zone and challenge yourself to be teachable. Great thoughts of John Maxwell.

Daniel 4:1-37

4 ^[a]King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!

² It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

³ How great are his signs,
    How mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
    His dominion endures from generation to generation.

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. ⁵ I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. ⁶ So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. ⁷ When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers^[b] and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. ⁸ Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

⁹ I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. ¹⁰ These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. ¹¹ The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. ¹² Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

¹³ “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,^[c] coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. ¹⁵ But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. ¹⁶ Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times^[d] pass by for him.

¹⁷ “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

¹⁸ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

¹⁹ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! ²⁰ The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹ with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— ²² Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

²³ “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’

²⁴ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: ²⁵ You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. ²⁶ The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. ²⁷ Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

The Dream Is Fulfilled

²⁸ All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

³¹ Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. ³² You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

³³ Immediately, what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
³⁵ All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
    or say to him: “What have you done?”

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride, he is able to humble.

Daniel could have tried merely to survive his experience as a captive in a foreign land. Instead, he never left his disciplined life of character and personal commitment. Ponder the character he displayed during his times of testing under the kings of Babylon:

1. His Diet: He wouldn’t compromise on ritually unclean foods, but ate only vegetables.
2. His Motives: He didn’t take credit for interpreting dreams; instead, he glorified God.
3. His Honesty: He spoke the truth to authorities, regardless of its unpopularity.
4. His Disciplines: He continued praying daily, even though it might cost him his life.
5. His Integrity: He had no interest in bribes or payoffs.
6. His Convictions: He stayed committed to his friends and beliefs even as he rose through the ranks.

How a leader deals with the circumstances of life tells you many things about his character, but it certainly does reveal it. Adversity forces a person to choose between two paths: character or compromise. Every time a leader chooses character, he grows stronger. Character is the foundation on which a leader builds his or her life. It all begins with character, because leadership operates on trust. People will follow a leader only so far as they trust him or her. Character conveys credibility, earns respect, fosters consistency, and builds trust.

Every leader must know the following about character:

1. Character is more than talk. Anyone can say that he has integrity, but action is the real indicator of character. Your character determines who you are and what you do. That’s why you can never separate a leader’s character from his actions. If a leader’s actions and intentions continually work against each other, look to his character to find out why.
2. Talent is a gift, but character is a choice. We have no control over many things in life. We don’t get to choose our parents or the circumstances of our birth and upbringing. But we do choose our character. We create it each time we make choices.
3. Character brings lasting success with people. True leadership always involves others. Followers do not trust leaders whose character they know to be flawed, and they will not continue to follow them.
4. Leaders cannot rise above the limitations of their character. Character will either limit or support a leader, depending on its strength. It will always determine whether a leader finishes well.

It simply takes a decision to have character in leadership. Devotional of John Maxwell teaching.

Daniel 2:48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.