Month: August 2020

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Matthew 19:21

To become an effective leader, you must be determined to serve. How you serve will determine how effective you will be. The more you serve, the bigger your impact. The principle of leadership works in the same way as the principle of giving. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Similarly, in leadership, your output or effectiveness is measured by the size of your service. The amount of service you offer will determine the size of your impact. If you serve a little, you will make little impact. If you serve more, you will make more impact.

Think of the rich young man. When he informed Jesus he was already keeping God’s commandments, Jesus told him to sell all his possessions, give it to the poor and then follow Him. What Jesus wanted the young man to do was to commit his entire life serving God. If the rich man could keep God’s laws while engaged in his private business, imagine what he could have achieved if he had committed his whole life. But the guy decided to limit his service to God. Leadership is like that. You can stretch your impact by the amount of your service. Nelson Mandela could have decided to restrict his service to his law firm. Mother Teresa could have decided to serve only in the nunnery. Martin Luther King Jnr could have said, “Let me just serve God on the pulpit.” But instead, they all increased the size of their service. Jesus, the greatest leader of all time, wants you to do the same thing He did. Increase the size of your service.

Prayer: Dear Lord, increase the size of service to you. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 6:38

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Matthew 18:4

You can’t function effectively in any position of leadership if you are not willing to serve others. Think of all the great leaders you know. Each of them is known for serving others. Whether they are religious leaders, political, business or career leaders, every one of them is known for offering a service to others. Jesus, whom I consider as the greatest leader of all time said, “I did not come to be served but to serve the world.” If you are not thinking of serving others, you would never become an effective leader. To become an effective leader, you must, first of all, be someone’s servant. If Joseph, Moses, David and Solomon, Daniel and Paul didn’t serve others, we wouldn’t have noticed them in the Bible. A leader or a king is literally a servant. It is by serving others that a leader earns the respect of his followers. If you are not serving others with something valuable, why should people follow you?

Jesus criticized the Pharisees because they were unwilling to serve. He was angry with them because they tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves were not willing to lift a finger. The Pharisees expected the people to serve God and do the right thing. But they themselves were unwilling to serve others and God. In God’s kingdom, we become effective through service. But you can’t serve if you are not humble. Humility is the determining factor. Jesus said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” When the disciples wanted to know how a person can be great Jesus told them to humble themselves like children. If you truly desire to be an effective leader, humble yourself so you can be able to serve others.

Prayer: Dear Lord, give me a humble spirit. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 18:1-5; Matthew 23:11-12

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Mark 6:34

On one occasion, Jesus took his disciples to a solitary place because they needed some rest. The apostles had just concluded one of their assignments. After reporting to Jesus, all they had done, many more people kept coming to them and the disciples could not even create time to eat. To rescue the disciples, Jesus decided to take them to a quiet place where they could have some time-out. They boarded a boat and quietly left. But before they got to their destination, the same people that they were running away from recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and even got to the solitary place ahead of Jesus and the disciples. When Jesus landed and saw the large crowd, he pitied them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. In other words, Jesus had compassion on them because He realized they needed to be guided. At that instant, Jesus realized there was a shortage of leadership.

How did Jesus tackle the problem? According to the scriptures, as soon as Jesus realized that the people were like sheep without a shepherd, “he began teaching them many things” (Mark 6:34). Notice that Jesus didn’t address the leadership problem by sharing money to the crowd. He didn’t try to empower them by sharing bags of foodstuffs or by giving them material possessions. Also, Jesus didn’t try to solve the problem by blaming anyone. He didn’t ask them to go home and find “shepherds”. Instead, Jesus immediately began to teach them. Why did Jesus teach the people at that moment? Of all things, Jesus concluded that imparting knowledge was the best way to empower the people. Although they needed some fish, Jesus decided that teaching the people how to fish was more important. To empower others, teach them!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, teach me how to empower others. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 6:30-34

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Mark 6:54

We all tend to feel special whenever people easily recognize us at a public place, especially in a ceremony. We feel honored and respected when we don’t have to introduce ourselves in public. To be recognizable means you are famous or popular. It also means you are that person who stands out in a crowd because others think you are unique and exceptional. There’s hardly any leader who isn’t easily recognized. The moment you become a leader, whether in your field of endeavor or in an organization, you will be recognizable. It’s all most impossible to be a leader and not be recognizable. But being recognizable doesn’t necessarily mean you are making impact in society. While you can be recognizable for the right reasons, you can also be noticeable for the wrong reasons. So the important thing is not whether you are recognizable or not, but why you are recognizable.  

One time, Jesus and His disciples traveled to a place, named, Gennesaret. Before He could settle, the people saw Him. And the moment they recognized Jesus, they ran throughout the whole region and carried the sick people on mats so He could heal them of their illnesses (Mark 7:55). Think about that for a moment. As soon as the people recognized Jesus, the next thing that crossed their minds was, “The healer is in town, let’s bring together the sick!” In other words, the moment they recognized Jesus, they were reminded of his work. What went through their minds after they recognized Jesus was the work for which he was known for. In the same way, that the people were reminded of the miraculous works of Christ the moment they recognized Him, the people around you are likely going to think of your antecedents whenever they see or recognize you.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want to be recognized for the right reasons. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 7:55-56

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – John 6:2

One day, Jesus travelled to the Sea of Tiberias, along with His disciples. This was shortly after he had been to many villages, preaching the good news. He probably had wanted to have a quiet time with His disciples. But a great crowd of five thousand people followed Him. These people had left their homes and businesses to follow Jesus. Although Jesus didn’t invite any of them, they followed him, all the way to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee. Clearly, the people took a huge risk. Some of them might have followed Jesus on foot. Probably, they had walked along the road with empty stomachs. But why would such a huge crowd of people, leave their villages and follow Jesus to a deserted place. According to the scriptures, the people had followed Jesus “because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick” (John 6:2).

To become a person of influence, you must, first of all, do something that others would consider as great or remarkable. If you are going to be a great leader, you would have to commit yourself to doing something that is of great value to others. People aren’t going to follow you because they like your face. They would only follow you because they like what you can offer. The thousands of people that followed Jesus weren’t really interested in Jesus. They were mainly concerned with the miracles that He performed. What they really wanted wasn’t Jesus but what He could do – the miracles. What do you carry inside of you? What can you do that will be of great value to others? Your ability to discover your unique gifts, and then offer it to others will determine how relevant you would be to your generation. Focus on your gifts!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, show me how to develop my unique gifts. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: John 6:1-2

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – 2 Timothy 2:6

Every farmer works with a reward in mind. When farmers set out to cultivate their land, their main objective is to produce crops. But then the farmer knows that the only way he would realize his objective is by working hard. A real farmer doesn’t depend on luck. They are aware that if they don’t work hard, they would starve. Farmers also know that they cannot cheat the process. For instance, the farmer knows that the only way he can harvest beans is by planting bean seeds on his farmland. If he doesn’t work on his farm, he would not have crops at harvest time. Also, the farmer is aware that he cannot plant bean seeds and then expect to reap rice. He knows that whatever he sows is what he will surely reap. For that reason, he takes responsibility over his success and works hard, cultivating his land.

Leadership works in the same way with the principle of farming. Like the farmer, the leader reaps whatever he sows. That is, whatever the leader sows in the lives of his people is what he would reap in the end. Just as the farmer cultivates his land, the leader nurtures his own people. Like the hardworking farmer whose land produces good crops for himself and others, the leader who spends his time, impacting lives, would eventually have impactful people, who would in turn serve him and others. And if he doesn’t work hard, he would be like the lazy farmer who yields nothing at the end of the rainy season. Most importantly, just as the hard working farmer is usually the first to receive a share of the crops (2Timothy 2:6); the effective leader also shares the same privilege from those he empowers. Lead like the hardworking farmer.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am willing to work hard in your vineyard. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – 2 Timothy 2:5

Leadership isn’t all about crisis and suffering. Although leadership comes with a lot of challenges, it also has its own benefits. Leaders don’t just go through pain; they also experience some gain. The truth about leadership is that while it has a price, it also comes with a prize. True leaders are individuals who pay a price in order to attain a prize. No doubt, every true leader has to pay a price in order to obtain a prize. If you are that leader who has been surrounded by a lot of challenges ever since you got that leadership position, be assured that your situation isn’t abnormal. Whatever problems you are facing in your capacity as leader is the price you have to pay in order to get hold of your prize. You can’t get that prize until you’ve paid the price for it. This is a universal law of leadership.

But while every leader is bound to face challenges, not every leader eventually succeeds in the end. In my assessment of leadership, I have seen many leaders who start well but when they begin to encounter challenges, they lose their focus and even forget why they were leaders. So in their attempt to get the prize by all means, they end up breaking the rules. You see, leadership is a like a race. You can’t cheat the process. To get the prize, you must abide by the rules of the game. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul advised him to see himself as an athlete. Paul said, “If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.” As you go through challenges, you are going to be tempted to cheat. But hold on, resist the urge to cheat!

Prayer: By the grace of our Lord Jesus, I will abide by the rules. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – 2 Timothy 2:4

There are many reasons why leaders fail. One of them is the inability of leaders to adhere to the rules governing their field or profession. Every field of endeavor has its own culture. The Nigerian Army, for instance, is different from other professions like law, teaching or accounting. So an Army General is normally expected to act and lead differently from an Accountant General. Although they are both leaders, each of them would certainly have different attitudes and objectives. For that reason, leaders must act according to the guiding principles of their line of work. Which means, to become an effective leader, you have to be familiar with the culture of your profession, and then make sure you act according to it. Knowing the culture of your profession can be the key to your success as leader. If you don’t understand the nature of your environment, you may find it difficult to stay focused.

As the apostle Paul schooled Timothy on leadership, he said to the young man, “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs- he wants to please his commanding officer”(2 Timothy 2:4). This statement was aimed at making Timothy realize that he could no longer act as an unbeliever because he had become a Christian leader – a “soldier” of Christ Jesus. When he was a “civilian” he got himself involved in civilian affairs. That is, he acted like a civilian, leading in a world where he could do whatever he wanted. He had lived in a world where he was his own boss. Now that he had become a soldier of Christ, he could no longer live that way. In God’s kingdom, the leadership culture is different. Even though he was a leader, Timothy was now obliged to serve Jesus – his commanding officer.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I submit to you. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Mark 9:35

Jesus often taught on the Kingdom of God. But despite His numerous explanations, His disciples didn’t understand. Jesus told them He had come to restore the kingdom of God. So they were optimistic that they would become members of His cabinet. Because they had left everything, they were hopeful that Jesus would reward them with top positions. To secure the best positions, the mother of James and John came to Jesus and requested that one of the two sons be given the opportunity to sit on His right and the other on His left in His kingdom. In other words, she wanted her sons to have key positions. “You don’t know what you are asking” Jesus replied. Because they didn’t understand the principles of the kingdom of God, the brothers thought they could lobby. But they were not the only disciples who didn’t know how God’s kingdom works. Obviously, the other ten disciples were also ignorant because when they heard what the two brothers did, they started an argument on who was the greatest among them.

To settle the matter, Jesus gave them a great lesson on leadership. He explained that God’s leadership model is different from what the world does. In the world, leaders exercise authority over their people. That is, they expect their followers to serve them. But in God’s kingdom, it is the other way round. The highest leadership position in the kingdom of God is gotten by the one who serves the most. To be great, we must, first of all, become servants. Jesus further reminded the disciples that His reason for existence is to serve and lay down His life for others. On that very day, Jesus revealed the secret of His success. Today, you too can learn as the disciples did. God bless you.

Prayer: Dear Lord, show me how to serve. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 20:20-28

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – 2 Timothy 2:3

One of the main reasons why leaders fail to lead effectively is because they aren’t aware that every leadership position comes with its own challenges. In most organizations, including Christian groups, some leaders are under the illusion that leadership positions are comfort zones. They get to the top, with the assumption that their positions would shield them from hardships. They begin their careers as leaders hoping that their leadership journey will be a smooth and steady ride. So when problems hit them, they give up easily because they were not ready to deal with hardships. Because they weren’t trained to endure hardships, many leaders squirm whenever challenges hit them. When leaders aren’t prepared to confront and endure hardships, they would certainly be unable to lead effectively. As a leader, you must realize that challenges and all sorts of hardship will come your way, whether you are a Christian or not.

So Paul, in his second letter to Timothy said to him, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Recall that the major theme of that letter was leadership. As a young pastor, Timothy needed some guidance on how to lead his church. As part of his counsel, Paul wanted Timothy to recognize that “enduring hardship” was expected of him. Notice that Paul said, “endure hardship with us.” In other words, Timothy was made to realize that he was not the only the one saddled with the task of enduring hardships. Like Paul and the other leaders of the Church, Timothy was also going to face his own troubles as a leader. But like a good soldier of Christ, Timothy was to endure the hardships. Because of that counsel, Timothy prepared himself. As you take on that leadership position, be mentally prepared to endure the challenges ahead!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the strength to endure hardships. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.