Study from God’s Word…Judges, Chapter 8 and 9 … Passage for Reflection: Judges 8: 23 … NIV 23 But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you."
My Journal for Today: The premise of Dr. Smith’s journal entry from his devotional for today is worthy to state, up front, as the highlight truth from my study of Judges 8 & 9 today. He writes: Unless I’m willing to let God be king of my own world, how can I possibly be king of any other world?”
And therein lies the story of Gideon, who was offered, by God’s people, the opportunity to become their king, especially since he had led the people to be freed from the control of the Midianites. However, Gideon realized and recognized Who the real KING was and who had really led them to victory in his day. He knew that the Lord was their deliverer; and so, he exhorted the people to recognize this truth as well and to make God their king.
Can you imagine some of our political leaders today being willing to recognize and transfer their power over to the One who really deserves it, … God? No, unfortunately when some get a taste of leadership control today, they become addicted to the power very quickly. How many of our elected leaders do you see recognizing God’s anointing and His part in their positions of leadership? It just doesn’t happen; does it? When today’s leaders, in whatever sphere of life you may recognize, get a position of control, they want to keep it and to develop as much power as they can so that they can exercise as much control as they can.
Who today would live by the teachings of the King of kings Who taught and modeled “servant leadership?” Gideon, in the biblical times which I’m studying now, recognized exactly on Whom the leadership of God’s people should rest; but unfortunately, just as today, the people seek leaders who will take the reigns of leadership; and one who will take their own individual responsibilities for leadership, copping out to “the king.”
I hope we all recognize that in certain aspects of our lives, each of us needs to be the “servant leader,” stretching ourselves to exercise our personal control over that God-anointed part of our life. We cannot, and should not, turn over all control and responsibility for leadership to the CEOs, the politicians, and/or the worldly leaders who would gladly desire to control our lives. When God calls us to lead in certain areas of life, we need to lead; and then, God will give us, as He did for Gideon, what it takes to get God’s job done for His glory. And so, let us learn and lead as God so designates. And when we do, He will get the glory.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, if You call me to lead, I will lead. If I am to follow, I will follow. Amen
Showing posts with label kings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kings. Show all posts
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
2010 – Feb. 27 – A Most Intriguing God
Study from God’s Word… Deut. 17: 14-20; Exod. 22: 28b; Deut. 16: 18; Deut. 17: 8-9; Deut. 17: 8-13; Deut. 1: 9-18; Exod. 23: 8, 3-6, Lev. 19: 15; Deut. 24: 17-18; Deut 16: 19-20; Deut. 5: 20; Exod. 23: 1-2; Exod. 23: 7; Deut. 19: 16-21; Deut. 19: 15; Deut. 24: 16; Deut. 25: 1-3; Deut. 21: 22-23; … Passage for Reflection: Deut. 17: 14 – 15a … NIV 14 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us," 15 be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses.
My Journal for Today: Today, in my devotional studies from The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, Dr. Smith, the Editor, had me bouncing through quite a bit of the Pentateuch to see some pretty intriguing principles about God and how He governed His people during the times of Moses and those theocratic times. And in this topical area of study today, we read of God actually anticipating man’s desire – much later in history – for a king; and so we read of the establishment of God’s laws with regard to the rule of men over men by earthy kings.
And, as Smith points out, isn’t it intriguing that God would actually allow man to rule men when he knows the sin nature of His fallen creature; and when God’s chosen could see what the pagan governments and cultures which surrounded them in Moses’ day had done? But God, in His omniscience, did anticipate and establish rules and methods for kingship; and really, in retrospect, it all makes perfect sense.
And let me quote the questions raised by Dr. Smith which help us to answer this seeming conundrum. He writes, “Without earthy kings how would we (i.e., believers) understand God’s own kingship over a (His) spiritual kingdom? … Without bad kings, how could we (God’s people) appreciate good kings – especially the righteous King of kings? … And how could we learn to honor our secular leaders, whether kings, presidents, or governors?” Yes, we do serve a most intriguing God, with a most intriguing sense of justice and righteousness, as well as an infinitely intriguing sense of humor. And so, it’s our responsibility to go with God’s flow; and wow, that is certainly being called into question in today’s world, isn’t it?
We have kingdoms [i.e., nations] in today’s world which are much like the pagan lands into which God injected Moses and His people, setting them free from one such mighty nation to follow Moses, a very human sinner; but one who would follow God and lead God’s people. And we see how even Moses, who certainly had God’s ear, had trouble ruling a nation of sinners. Now, today, why would we be surprised by kings and Presidents trying to rule nations of sinners, who are very much like God’s chosen … fickle, selfish, and disobedient people? And yet, we are to understand that it is God Who establishes governments and leaders of governments – for His good favor and as part of His plan. Thereby, and therefore, we must let our leaders lead; and we must do so until and unless our leaders cause us to break God’s law and to be disobedient, individually, to our God. Then, and only then, must we stand for righteousness in anticipation of the coming of the King of kings who will rule forever on God’s throne of grace and righteousness.
So, are you hanging in these days while governments all over the world seem to be becoming more and more evil and corrupt? We must always remember that God is still in control; and His righteousness will one day rule in the Personage of the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Jesus WILL RETURN; and HE WILL RULE - … FOREVER !!
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You will always be my King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen
My Journal for Today: Today, in my devotional studies from The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, Dr. Smith, the Editor, had me bouncing through quite a bit of the Pentateuch to see some pretty intriguing principles about God and how He governed His people during the times of Moses and those theocratic times. And in this topical area of study today, we read of God actually anticipating man’s desire – much later in history – for a king; and so we read of the establishment of God’s laws with regard to the rule of men over men by earthy kings.
And, as Smith points out, isn’t it intriguing that God would actually allow man to rule men when he knows the sin nature of His fallen creature; and when God’s chosen could see what the pagan governments and cultures which surrounded them in Moses’ day had done? But God, in His omniscience, did anticipate and establish rules and methods for kingship; and really, in retrospect, it all makes perfect sense.
And let me quote the questions raised by Dr. Smith which help us to answer this seeming conundrum. He writes, “Without earthy kings how would we (i.e., believers) understand God’s own kingship over a (His) spiritual kingdom? … Without bad kings, how could we (God’s people) appreciate good kings – especially the righteous King of kings? … And how could we learn to honor our secular leaders, whether kings, presidents, or governors?” Yes, we do serve a most intriguing God, with a most intriguing sense of justice and righteousness, as well as an infinitely intriguing sense of humor. And so, it’s our responsibility to go with God’s flow; and wow, that is certainly being called into question in today’s world, isn’t it?
We have kingdoms [i.e., nations] in today’s world which are much like the pagan lands into which God injected Moses and His people, setting them free from one such mighty nation to follow Moses, a very human sinner; but one who would follow God and lead God’s people. And we see how even Moses, who certainly had God’s ear, had trouble ruling a nation of sinners. Now, today, why would we be surprised by kings and Presidents trying to rule nations of sinners, who are very much like God’s chosen … fickle, selfish, and disobedient people? And yet, we are to understand that it is God Who establishes governments and leaders of governments – for His good favor and as part of His plan. Thereby, and therefore, we must let our leaders lead; and we must do so until and unless our leaders cause us to break God’s law and to be disobedient, individually, to our God. Then, and only then, must we stand for righteousness in anticipation of the coming of the King of kings who will rule forever on God’s throne of grace and righteousness.
So, are you hanging in these days while governments all over the world seem to be becoming more and more evil and corrupt? We must always remember that God is still in control; and His righteousness will one day rule in the Personage of the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Jesus WILL RETURN; and HE WILL RULE - … FOREVER !!
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You will always be my King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen
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