Lead with Wisdom
Devotion Series
Our theme for 2026 is “Lead with Wisdom,” centering on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the book of James in the New Testament. Every few weeks, an ABC NE staff member will share a short devotion from these passages, helping us reflect as Nebraska Baptists work to develop wise leaders and churches. The aim is to connect biblical wisdom with practical ministry in local congregations, encouraging, challenging, and empowering churches to support each other. These devotions are not just for personal piety but also serve as tools for leadership and community formation.
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January 8, 2026 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:2-12 |
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Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 by blessing unexpected people: “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” “Blessed are those who mourn,” and “Blessed are the meek.” These qualities are not admired in modern culture, which values achievement and control. Instead, they describe those who recognize their limits, have experienced loss, and avoid security through power or revenge. Biblically, “blessed” means God’s favor on people we tend to avoid. Blessing stems from a covenant—God’s commitment to be with his people, fostering hope for the future. Jesus is not instructing how to be blessed but declaring who God already considers blessed. Wisdom starts here because misunderstanding blessing leads to overlooking faithfulness. Churches often confuse numerical growth and financial prosperity with God’s blessing. Jesus emphasizes the suffering and overlooked as key participants in God’s kingdom, declaring that those who hunger for righteousness, show mercy, make peace, and endure rejection for righteousness are blessed and will inherit heaven and earth. This shapes how we live together as churches. Many ABC Nebraska congregations are not large or widely influential by cultural standards. Some are weary. Some mourn what once was. Some quietly stay faithful in difficult circumstances. Some bring peace to chaos. Some are experiencing vibrant new energy. The wisdom of Jesus’ Beatitudes reminds us that God’s kingdom runs right through such communities of faith. God’s kingdom operates on humility, mercy, and hope. To lead with wisdom is to learn to participate where God’s kingdom is already at work, especially when it manifests as weakness. The Beatitudes call us beyond personal spirituality into community responsibility. Those who have received mercy are urged to share it. Those who seek justice are encouraged to live it out. Those who know God’s peace are challenged to practice reconciliation, even when it costs. Wisdom is not passive; it is a way of living that embodies God’s future in the present. As we begin this journey of Lead with Wisdom, Jesus invites us to let go of narrow definitions of success and to wrestle with God’s deeper vision of flourishing. Where might God be naming blessings on those we overlook? Whose quiet faithfulness needs to be seen and honored? And what would change in our leadership, and in our churches, if we truly believed that God’s favor rests not on the powerful and influential, but on those who trust God with their whole lives? Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula |
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