Tag: Leadership

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The Throne

Daily Reading

1Kings 1-2

Daily Thought

The first words of the books of Kings, “Now King David was old and advanced in years” (1 Kings 1:1), remind us our time is temporary. The reign of David would pass on to another, to his son, Solomon, and David instructs his successor, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn’ (1Kings 2:2-3). Kings come and go because the throne is never truly their own, but God’s. 

Pay attention, though, because God promised David that, although he could not keep the throne, he could keep the throne in his family, “if your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel” (1Kings 2:4). Some did, most did not. One of two oft repeated obituaries are recorded in Scripture at the passing of a king, “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord,” and less often, “he did what was right.” Rulers do well to remember they lead at the pleasure or displeasure of God, and will be judged accordingly. Eventually, the record goes silent and the throne is empty.

Until another is born, Jesus Christ, son of David” (Matthew 1:1), Son of God. His will be an obedience “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8), “and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33). The promise is fulfilled. 

Daily Prayer

God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, I know that You are good and You made this world good. When I follow You, I am blessed. Your discipline is good. It comes from Your love and Your desire to see me live a life of righteousness and peace.

Your correction is painful, at times, but I am glad for it.It puts me back on the right track.Do not let me become blind and deaf to the consequences of evil, but help me remember the joy of walking with You, so I will always long for it. It is good to be a citizen of the righteous and wonderful King of kings forever.

Amen

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A Rare Word

Daily Reading

1Samuel 1-3

Daily Thought

“Now the sons of Eli were worthless men”–God’s Word speaks with a beautiful bluntness–”They did not know the Lord” (1Samuel 2:12). A terrible resume for priests, and Hophni and Phinehas did terrible things for which they both would die on the same day and be replaced by “a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind” (1Samuel 2:35). God raises up this faithful priest, Samuel, in the next chapter.

Notice how the next chapter begins, 1Samuel 3:1, “And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision”; and ends, verse 21, “And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” The Hebrew reads literally, “the Lord appeared increasingly.” There is movement in Israel; God is beginning to visit again. What prompted this is found between the first and last verses. Samuel, yet a boy, displays a heart for God’s Word. He listens for it, he receives it, and he faithfully and fully passes it along to others. “Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground” (v 19), a fine resume for a priest or prophet. “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord.” God speaks more often when leaders listen and do what he says.

Daily Prayer

Eternal God, You have made me a temple of Your Spirit. You live in me! I pray my words, my actions, my every thought reflect Your character so fully that Your kingdom is made evident to the world, that You are praised because others glimpse heaven, that not a Word you speak to me falls to the ground.

By Your grace and Your goodness, by Your righteousness and the Holy Spirit who indwells me, may I be filled with Your love. May I listen to Your words, know Your thoughts, follow Your heart, because hearing without doing is not listening. And so in my doing what You say, may others hear Your voice, think your thoughts, and give you their heart.

Amen

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Replace Yourself

Daily Reading

Numbers 26-27

Daily Thought

The Lord said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin” (Numbers 27:12-14). For forty years, Moses led a whiny, complaining tribe of Hebrews to the Promised Land. Then, within a stone’s throw of their destination, Moses sinned, and God said, “You’re not going in, Moses.” Ever faithful, Moses passes the mantle of leadership to Joshua. Observe how in four verses, Numbers 27:18-21.

Moses leads, Joshua watches, verse 18: So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.”

Moses leads with Joshua by his side, verse 19: “Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight.”

Joshua leads with Moses by his side, verse 20: “You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.”

Joshua leads, Moses watches, verse 21: “And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.”

Leaders do not turn around to gaze at their followers, rather they seek new leaders in raw form to develop, new leaders who will pick up where they leave off and continue the journey.

Daily Prayer

Father God, thank You for investing in me. You rescued me from sin and filled me with Your Holy Spirit. Now I am Your ambassador, declaring and displaying the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost world, desperately in need of salvation.

God, may I be holy, set apart for Your pleasure, for Your good news, for Your service on earth. May I do the same things I saw Your Son do, letting go of my will and my treasures, leading others to Your Kingdom, serving others in love.

Amen