Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

“The Resistance” Biblical Leadership Devotional Lesson 2: An Accurate Realization

Those who mourn visually translates into a picture of someone grieving from a deep emotional sense of loss.  More specifically, a deep sorrow over sin and what it produces… a spiritual brokenness and separation from our Father.  And even more precisely, this addresses heart change which leads to repentance.

As leaders, we must accept responsibility for ourselves and those we lead if we expect positive changes which create opportunities for growth.  If we allow pride (Matthew 5:3) to blind us, we will naturally fall into the mindset that we have done nothing wrong, therefore not needing forgiveness, which is a lie.

Admitting and addressing failures and wrong doings is paramount to not only becoming a Godly leader but continuing as one.  This is not an area we can phone in… it is imperative that we model this characteristic in a humble, consistent manner so those that we lead will learn by example and be encouraged.

We must acknowledge our sins and what it has produced in our lives.  This is the first step in true heart change.  We must remember who we once were, and the price Christ paid to redeem us.  By acknowledging our failures, we can confess that sin and move toward repentance which will ultimately strengthen us in our weakest areas.

Sin produces so much hurt, pain and suffering in life that if we allow it to grow and operate in us, the day will come that we become so numb and desensitized to its effects that our conscious and moral fabric deteriorates to such a point that our view of life and reality become twisted.  Twisted so much so, that wrong will seem right and right will seem wrong.  In other words, we knowingly deceive ourselves.

Application (Leadership Devotional Homework)

For this week, inspect your heart and determine if you have indeed experienced heart change in the area you are choosing to focus on.  If not, we must go to the Lord in prayer that He would lead us to see and feel the ramifications and seriousness of our failures… that He would not just leave us in our sorrow, but to comfort us that we can and will be forgiven.

From scripture, we know that we can acknowledge our sins by confessing them.  This is a required first step for repentance.  We also know that we can have faith that God is just and merciful and faithful to forgive us our sins.  But it is our responsibility to be obedient by confessing sin and asking forgiveness then to be repentant and turn from the sin.

It almost goes without saying that we may stumble during this process, but we are to press forward and not just give up and accept mediocrity in becoming comfortable with our failures.  We cannot tolerate complacency of sin within.  We must be honest and ruthless when confronting sin in our lives and realize the eternal effects.

Character in Action

Read Luke 7:36-50 and pay attention to verse 47.

• Can you say you have experienced this sort of heart change and forgiveness due to sorrow over sin and what it has produced?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the One who created and sustains everything.  Please forgive us for our sinful selfish choices that have led to separation from You.  We thank you that You are faithful to forgive.  We ask that you equip us with a heart of repentance and bless our walk with You.  Please encourage us during this time of confrontation with the hope and expectation that if we would just let go of what is making us sick, we can then grasp that which makes us healed.  We pray this in Your Son’s holy name, Amen.

For more information or to purchase “The Resistance” by Josh Staton to use as a Biblical leadership devotional, or curriculum for an addiction recovery class, please visit:

The Resistance: Becoming A Servant Leader Through the Beatitudes Book

If you are in the Hendersonville, NC area, join us for an addiction recovery class. Click for more information on attending a First Contact Ministries support group for individuals or families struggling with addiction issues.

Did you miss the other lessons? Click see the entire Resistance: Becoming a Servant Leader through the Beatitudes Biblical Leadership Series.