The Inspired Leader: 101 Biblical Reflections for Becoming a Person of Influence (46 page)

Or would I? The Father calls me to walk at His side, to allow Him to provide for me in every area of my life, to live in intimate relationship with Him. Yet there are times, ways, and habits where my actions and thoughts in effect say “I’ll just figure it out myself” or “I really want this particular outcome, so I’ll make it happen.”

Subtle? Perhaps. But isn’t this living as if I don’t have a home and must go off to the distant country and make one for myself? Isn’t it nonetheless a rejection of the Father, a denial that my true home can only be found in Him?

While in the distant country the Prodigal squandered his inheritance on fleeting, temporal, worldly pleasures. God allowed famine in the distant country, but there is no shortfall at home. Eventually, the son came to his senses and began rehearsing the speech he was going to make. Note, however, that the son did not even consider the possibility of complete forgiveness. He set his sights on survival and planned his negotiating strategy for a business relationship with the Father. As a hired hand, he’d be entitled to compensation for services. Yes, he’d survive, but he wouldn’t live in the fullness of who he really was, the true son of the Father. The wayward son did recognize that living at home, even as a hired hand, was far better than the impoverished lifestyle he was experiencing in the distant country. So he began his journey toward home.

Even while far off, the Father caught sight of him and
ran
to meet him. Amazing! The son attempted to blurt out his lines, but the Father ignored his words. He was already forgiven! The Father was overjoyed that His son had returned. Rather than a business relationship, the Father restored him to full sonship with the family ring and a royal robe. Then the celebration began! The Father whose love never wavered, celebrated the return of the one who had heartlessly rejected him.

It’s clear, isn’t it? God has so much more in store for you than you can imagine. His love is so complete and unconditional, that He will not only let you walk away, but He will run to you as soon as you turn and take the first steps toward Him. With a Father like that, why would you ever want to leave home?
1

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. What is your favorite aspect of the parable of the Prodigal Son? Why is it? Who do you identify with in that parable? Why?
   

2. When have you been like the younger son? How have you rejected your heavenly Father’s love for you? Why have you done so?
   

3. How has the love of the Father encouraged you? When have you experienced His warm welcome when you returned to Him? Are you presently walking at a distance from Christ? Do you need to return into a full, intimate walk with God once more? If so, what is preventing you from returning to Him now?
   

1
Inspiration for this devotional should credited to the writings of Henri Nouwen in
The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
.

IT HAS BEEN my enormous privilege to work with men and women who spend their workdays in the marketplace. They are remarkable people. Somewhere in their life, God got a hold of them. Nothing has been the same since. Their families have felt the impact. Their colleagues have been encouraged. Their churches have been revived. In short: their lives are making a profound difference in their world.

These people had understood they were gifted in business, but they had not known why God had equipped them in that particular way. Once they understood God’s call to a personal relationship with Him, everything in their life came into proper perspective. They now understood why God had taken their lives down the pathway He did. Their failures as well as their successes, their heartaches as well as their joys, finally made sense to them. Their purpose in life came in to focus at last. As a result, these businesspeople are dramatically expanding God’s kingdom.

That is my prayer for you. I am keenly aware that I have only one life to live. It is too precious to squander! The same is true for you. As you go deeper in your walk with Christ, He will transform you to think, feel, and act like Him. He will lay His heart over yours. You will readily discern what matters in life, and what does not. You will find yourself drawn to invest in that which is eternal, and you will grow to disdain that which is temporal or carnal.

Hopefully as you have read these devotional thoughts, you have done so with an open mind and heart. A devotional cannot change your life. But the Holy Spirit, who is with you as you read, can. Welcome His involvement into your life. Eagerly respond to His promptings. Trust Him regardless of how impossible His word may appear to you. And obey. Immediately. Your life is too valuable to spend it in any other way than in the center of God’s will. Live well, and enjoy your Savior.

DR. RICHARD BLACKABY is a prolific author, international speaker, grateful husband to Lisa, and proud father to Mike, Daniel, and Carrie. He invests himself, encouraging people to seek God’s best for their lives. He works with Christian business leaders, helping them to be on God’s agenda in the marketplace. Richard has a Ph.D. in history and has been a life-long student of leadership. Dr. Blackaby currently serves as the president of Blackaby Ministries International (
www.blackaby.org
) through which he teaches business, church, and family leaders how to take their leadership to a higher level. You can keep up with him at
facebook.com/DrRichardBlackaby
and
twitter.com/richardblackaby

DR. BLACKABY HAS written numerous books including
Experiencing God, Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda, God in the Marketplace: 45 Questions Fortune 500 Executives Ask About Faith, Life, and Business; The Seasons of God: How the Shifting Patterns of Your Life Reveals His Purposes for You; Unlimiting God: Increasing Your Capacity to Experience the Divine; Fresh Encounter: God’s Pattern for Spiritual Awakening; Putting a Face on Grace: Living a Life Worth Passing On; Hearing God’s Voice; Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God;
and
Called to Be God’s Leader: Lessons from the Life of Joshua.

Jack Alexander
, Vice Chairman and Partner, Rainmaker Group Holdings.

James Barnett
, President, DaySpring.

John D. Beckett
, Chairman, The Beckett Companies; Author,
Loving Monday
and
Mastering Monday.

Jed Burnham
, CEO Vectra Bank (retired).

Rich Case
, CEO, Benchmark Associates, Inc.

George L. Clark Jr.
, Managing Director, Freestone Partners, LLC.

Lawrence A. Collett
, Chairman of the Board,Cass Information Systems, Inc.

Jeffrey H. Coors
, Chairman, Fiskeby Holdings US, LLC.

Marjorie Dorr
, Chief Strategy Officer, Wellpoint Inc. (retired); CEO, Anthem BCBS Northeast (retired)

David L. Dunkel
, Chairman and CEO of KForce, Inc.

Dave Fagin
, CEO (retired) Golden Star Mining.

Brent Garrison
, Ph.D., Director of CEO Relations, CEO Forum.

Lou Giuliano
, Chairman and CEO, ITT Corp., (retired). Workforce Ministries.

Steve Hughes
, Management Consultant.

Greg King
, Principal of GCK Ventures, LLC.

Clyde Lear
, Chairman/CEO, and Founder, Learfield Communications, Inc.

Richard McClure
, President, UniGroup, Inc. and CEO, United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit.

Mark Nelson
, President, Chevron International Pte Ltd., International Products.

Terry Noetzel
, Principal,Deloitte Consulting LLP.

Clarence Otis Jr.
, Chairman and CEO, Darden Restaurants, Inc.

J. Michael Perry
, EVP Business Development, Williams Financial Group.

Lynda Pitts
, CEO, Legacy Marketing Group.

David Ratcliff
, Chairman/President/CEO, Southern Company.

Cort Randel
l, President, Corporate Media Services, Inc.

Jeff Reeter
, Managing Partner, The Texas Financial Group LP of Northwestern Mutual.

Paul Spence
, CEO of The STI Group.

Tom Starnes
, Chairman and CEO, Inflexis.

Steve Taylor
, Former CEO, Fresh Express

Ron Wagley
, Chairman, CEO and President Transamerica Insurance (retired).