‘NOT MINE, BUT HIS’

A Deep Thoughts Devotional Story
© Opeyemi Akintunde
As Inspired by the Living Word

I remember sitting in a pastor’s office years ago when a church worker came in looking distressed.

“Sir, one of your members just joined Pastor Matthew’s church down the street,” he reported.

The pastor leaned back in his chair, frowned, and said, “Hmm… My member? She will regret leaving my covering.”

The conversation stung me.
Why?
Because I realized how easily spiritual leadership can slip into ownership.

That pastor wasn’t a bad man, he truly loved God. But somewhere along the line, his language revealed a subtle shift: from God’s people to my people.

The truth? Those members never belonged to him in the first place.
They were blood-bought by Jesus, not by any pastor, prophet, or apostle.

*****

It’s a dangerous thing when we start taking possession of what God only entrusted to us.

It can happen to:

• Pastors (“my members”)

• Ministry leaders (“my disciples”)

• Mentors (“my converts”)

• Even Christian parents (“my children will only serve God my way”)

Jesus didn’t say, “Go make people loyal to you.” He said:
“Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

When we build loyalty to ourselves instead of loyalty to Christ, we aren’t making disciples, we’re building fan clubs. And fan clubs don’t survive storms.

Let’s remember: we are shepherds, not owners. Stewards, not masters. Servants, not kings.

*****

SCRIPTURE:

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” – 1 Corinthians 3:7

*****

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Lord, cleanse my heart from pride that seeks ownership over what is Yours.

2. Father, help me to point people to You, not to myself.

3. Lord, may every soul I influence grow into the fullness of Christ, not into a copy of me.

******

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Written by Opeyemi Akintunde
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