Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the Executive Director of the De Pree Center, the lead pastor of a church in Southern California, and the Senior Director of Laity Lodge in Texas. He has written eight books, dozens of articles, and over 2,500 devotions that help people discover the difference God makes in their daily life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, Mark teaches at Fuller Seminary, most recently in his D.Min. cohort on “Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation.” Mark is married to Linda, a marriage and family counselor, spiritual director, and executive coach. Their two grown children are educators on the high school and college level.
Retirement is Changing Again. How Does That Affect You?
As the COVID-19 pandemic was raging, you may have seen headlines about retirement. They often read like these: “Amid the pandemic, a rising share…
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The Holy Spirit Brings Us Together, Part 2
When we receive God’s grace through faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit connects us in a deep, lasting way to the community of other Christians. Our unity as Christians isn’t something we create, but rather something created by the Spirit of God in which we live.
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Workday Prayers: Delighting in What We Take for Granted
God has made this day and has given you life. No matter what you’re facing, receive the gift of this day with gratitude.
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The Holy Spirit Brings Us Together, Part 1
A few weeks after the death and resurrection of Jesus, during the Jewish holiday of Pentecost, God filled the followers of Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Because of their witness, over 3,000 people joined the fellowship of Jesus-followers. They didn’t just believe new things and go to church on Sunday. Rather, they became deeply engaged with their sisters and brothers in Christ. Their example of deep and extensive community teaches and challenges us. How might we be more connected to our sisters and brothers in Christ?
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You’re Never Alone
Before he ascended to Heaven, Jesus promised that he would always be with his disciples. This promise is given to us as well. Jesus is with us always, now through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This means that no matter how it feels to us, we are never alone. God is with us always, no matter what.
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The Aloneness of Jesus
In a way we will never fully understand, Jesus experienced profound aloneness on the cross. Most of his followers had left him alone. And even his Heavenly Father turned his back as Jesus bore the penalty for our sin. Because of what Jesus endured for us, we will not be forsaken by God. We will never be left alone.
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Jesus Crucified But Not Completely Alone
As Jesus was crucified, he experienced profound aloneness. But he wasn’t completely alone. Several of his followers – mainly a number of women – stayed with him and even drew near to him as he was daying. This reminds us that we need others with us when we suffer. It also encourages us to be with people in their pain. As it says in Romans, “Weep with those who weep.”
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Workday Prayers: Celebrate God’s Love and Faithfulness as You Work
As you work today, praise the Lord because God loves you and is always faithful.
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Sometimes Jesus Did Not Want to Pray Alone
The example of Jesus teaches us that there are times when it’s good to be alone with the Lord as we pray. His example also reminds us that sometimes we need others with us when we pray. If Jesus wanted to have his friends with him when he prayed in Gethsemane, surely you need similar support when you face great challenges and deep suffering.
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The Dustiness of Lent
On Ash Wednesday many Christians throughout the world will hear some version of these familiar words: “Dust you are and to dust you will return.” Today we are reminded of our mortality, of the way sin has hurt and corrupted us. Today we sense once again how much we need a Savior. Today we begin to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus the Savior, whose death and resurrection give us true life. Today, we start to get ready for Good Friday and Easter.
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Lent Approaches. . . A Time to Grow in Grace
Lent approaches. Sometimes people assume that Lent is a season to do things to earn God’s favor. But, in fact, Lent is really a time to grow in your experience of God’s love and grace. In Lent we draw near to God who gives us mercy and grace to help us just when we need it.
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Praying When You’re Alone
When it comes to discerning God’s guidance for our lives, Scripture teaches us to value corporate discernment as well as times of solitude. Indeed, we need the input and perspective of our sisters and brothers in Christ. And we need times when we can quiet our hearts to hear from the Lord. Both experiences are essential for a full, fruitful, and faithful Christian life.
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Workday Prayers: Praying as God’s Servant
Though we take on a variety of roles in our daily work – employee, boss, manager, subordinate, worker, laborer, executive, etc. – in all of life we are God’s servant. May we see ourselves in this way at work, no matter the titles or roles we fulfill.
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Jesus Prayed That We Don’t Do It Alone
Jesus’s prayer in John 17, with its striking request that all disciples of Jesus be unified, underscores the truth of the “can’t do it alone” principle. It also challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we experiencing in our relationships the unity for which Jesus prayed? Are we helping our church to be more united and less divided? Are we living each day in the reality of the oneness we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
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Jesus Sent Out His Disciples In Pairs, Not Alone
Jesus reinforces the “can’t do it alone” truth of Christian life and work by sending out his disciples “two by two.” He knew that their ministry would be stronger if they served in teams. Thus, as we think about our life and work, we would do well to imitate the “two by two” approach of Jesus, sharing in life and work with partners who will help us to be more effective and resilient in all we do.
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