Shepherd Daily Devotional

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.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – 2 Timothy 2:2

One of the major challenges of leadership is the inability of leaders to transform their followers into leaders. All over the world, and in every area of life, including the religious circles, we have a situation whereby leaders are unable to develop other leaders within their organizations. It is rare to find an organization whose employees exhibit the same leadership qualities with the person at the top. What usually happens is that leaders take the front row and then act as if they are superhuman. They do all the most important work in their organizations. And if it’s a religious organization, they might even be the only ones to preach on the pulpit. So we’ve created an atmosphere that makes people think leadership is the exclusive right of a select few. The trouble with that kind of leadership is that when the leader passes on, the organization perishes.

By transforming his followers into leaders, Paul was able to plant many churches. Paul knew that the success of his missionary work depended on his ability to develop enough leaders who would be able to teach like he did. So he dedicated his time teaching his followers how to teach. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul said, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” From this statement, you can see that Paul actually taught others so that they could also become great teachers like him.Therefore,Paul advised Timothy to depend not only on the grace that is found in Christ but to also hinge on his teachings. Don’t just lead well, teach others how to lead.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to be a leader’s leader. 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 – Luke 21:37

The leader who eventually gets to his destination is the one who remains consistent. To be persistent actually means to keep at it, all the time. In my work on leadership, I’ve learned that leaders are encouraged to be persistent because of the challenges they are bound to face as they pursue their goals. No matter how anointed you are; you are going to incur obstacles along the way. There will be times you wouldn’t feel like getting up from your bed. If you are not persistent, setbacks will make you quit. But when you constantly pursue your goals on a daily basis, the challenges will surely give way. The little steps you take each day will eventually mount up and force its way, pulling you out of your difficulties.

The apostle Paul knew this leadership principle. In his letter to Timothy, he proudly said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the good faith.” Paul was acknowledging the fact that his journey was a battle, but like a persistent sportsperson, he stayed committed to his cause and eventually won the race. On one occasion, Paul entered a synagogue and consistently preached for three months. Then some people decided to oppose him. But Paul didn’t quit. Instead, He took the disciples who believed in him and went to a different hall where he preached daily for two years, until both the Jews and Greeks in the province of Asia heard the gospel. Jesus also did His work in a persistent way. “Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple”. It wasn’t like Jesus didn’t face problems in His ministry. But He persisted by working every day. To succeed in that leadership position, you have to be willing to do that work every day.

Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to do my work every day. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Acts 19:8-10; Luke 21:37

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – John 7:16-19

One day, as Jesus was teaching at the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jews who heard Him were impressed. Then they asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” In His reply, Jesus said His teachings were not His own but of God. He explained that if anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether His teaching comes from God or whether He spoke on His own. The people were confused. Actually, Jesus intended to make His critics understand that His teachings were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Because He was sent by God His teachings didn’t come from Him. He wanted them to know that it is the sender who owns the message, and not the messenger. And He needed them to realize that if they could abide by God’s will they would also have the same experience. In other words, if they did what God wanted them to do, they would no longer do things their own way. For whomever does God’s will brings honor to God and not to himself.

To succeed in any leadership position, find out what God wants you to do. God may not ask you to be an expert teacher like Jesus. But He would certainly give you a leadership task intended to bring honor to Him. When you choose to do God’s will, He will partner with you and surely equip you with the right tools. He would inspire you with the right ideas that would enable you fulfill your purpose. Today, Jesus wants you to know that when you work for the honor of the Father, He will give you revelations on how to fulfill your assignment. People will look at you and be amazed at your work because the God you serve does amazing things.

Prayer: Dear Lord, use me for your own purposes. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Job 7:16–19; Acts 22:14; Ephesians 5:17         

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – 2 Timothy 2:1

No doubt, the apostle Paul is one of the greatest leaders in the Bible. Paul was not only a leader who did remarkable things, but also, he was a leader’s leader. No reader of the New Testament can ignore Paul’s obvious effort in developing leaders. Paul was not only an individual who was able to lead effectively in his own capacity as leader; he was also a leader who succeeded in transforming his followers into effective leaders like himself. You will agree that a large portion of the book of Acts captures the leadership journey of Paul as he moved from place to place, planting Churches and then leaving them in the hands of his mentees. So while the Acts of Apostles captures Paul’s church planting expedition, the epistles contain most of his leadership tips to his mentees. Each of Paul’s letters contains scriptural expositions and leadership ideas on ways his protégés could lead.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul said to him, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” What was Paul trying to say? Obviously, that was a statement aimed at encouraging Timothy. As his mentor, Paul was giving Timothy instructions on how to effectively lead the Church under his care. Timothy was a young Pastor who needed guidance. And Paul was aware that Timothy was saddled with a lot of responsibilities. He was expected to be an exemplary leader, to teach rightly, manage people and do a whole lot of other things that would ensure the growth of his Church. Paul knew that there was no way Timothy could succeed without the “grace” of God. So he advised Timothy to depend on the strength that can only be found in Christ. Today, I challenge you to depend on Jesus!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I need your grace. Amen.

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

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