Worthy of fellowship? - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezra 5-7
WORTHY OF FELLOWSHIP? Monday, July 26, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him” (Mark 3:13) READ: Mark 3:13-15 “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him” (Mark 3:13). God has a right to call some people and not to call others. If He has called you, you should count yourself privileged. In today’s reading, the Lord chose 12 out of so many disciples for three reasons: To keep Him company, to go out and preach and to be empowered. And in that order too! Why must you be with Him before He will send you to preach and empower you for signs and wonders? It is simply to deal with the problem of loneliness. Loneliness is one of the greatest challenges of a leader. Great leaders are lonely for want of like-minded people. Birds of the same feathers flock together they say. People tend to fellowship with those with whom they have common visions, aspirations and goals. Where such goals are diverse, there will not be meeting of minds on crucial issues. For instance, when the Heaven-focused leader is thinking of how to turn in 1000 souls, his subordinate may be thinking of acquiring prime land at Lekki, Lagos. While the leader is thinking of Lets-Go-A-Fishing in December, the subordinate will be thinking of Christmas turkey. What kind of companion are you to your pastor? Some pastors are still lonely even with several ministers and workers under them. Is your presence solving or compounding the loneliness of your pastor? Great leaders see far into the future. They see what their subordinates cannot see. Our Lord Jesus needed the 12 to be with Him. In Genesis 1:26, the Lord created Adam to fellowship with Him. The Trinity could not fellowship with inanimate objects or animals they had made. Hence, they had to specially make man in their own image so that they can fellowship with them. Everyday, God came down to fellowship with Adam. One day, He came down and found Adam hiding. He had come for fellowship but Adam was not there for Him. And He asked: “Adam, where are thou?” God is still in search for true worshippers today (John 4:23-24). Are you in the place God can fellowship with you? Whenever you are located in sin like fleeing Adam, God cannot fellowship with you. Can God fellowship with you? If He cannot, you are not fulfilling the most important reason for living. ACTION POINT: Some married women still battle regularly with loneliness because their husbands are too busy to have time for them. Is your spouse lonely?