Led by GOD

Led by GOD

Exodus 13: ¹⁷ Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸ So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

 

¹⁹ And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”

 

²⁰ So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. ²¹ And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. ²² He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

 

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After Pharaoh finally agreed to let the people go, GOD led them out in the wilderness. HE avoided the land of the Philistines and took the people through the wilderness. Joseph’s bones were taken with them. GOD appeared as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of cloud by night.

 

My Observations:

• GOD needed to lead the people away from danger so their hearts would not yearn for Egypt.
• Joseph never accepted the Egyptian ways and wanted his bones to be moved to disassociate himself fully from them for all times.
• GOD made sure the children of Israel could see HIM day and night.

 

It was important to GOD for the people to give up the Egyptian ways. For four hundred thirty years, a slavery mindset grew solidly within the children of Israel. They had no idea what freedom looked like. GOD led the people away from the place Abraham stopped off.

 

Abraham and Isaac stayed in the land of the Philistines for a while. This was a battle-driven group of people who could care less about GOD’s ways. Strangely, GOD led the people by way of the Red Sea. HE knew this was a dead end. GOD was also dealing with the mindset of HIS people who did not believe in HIS power. HE did all of this to keep HIS promise of providing a Savior. But the people did not know this.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about how HE went in front of the people to lead the way?
• Are you in a period of your life where all you have is questions for GOD?
• Is GOD preparing you for a tremendous blessing by taking you through the wilderness?

Roles Identified

Roles Identified

Revelation 7: After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that no wind should blow on the earth or the sea or against any tree. ² And I saw another angel coming up from the east with the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given the power to damage the earth and the sea. ³ The angel said, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.” ⁴ And I was told that the number of those who were marked with God's seal on their foreheads was 144,000. They were from the twelve tribes of Israel, ^5-8 twelve thousand from each tribe: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

 

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At the event we were told to “Find your leader.” The instructions were clarified by having us find the person wearing a certain tee shirt color and carrying a pennant with the group name we were splitting up into.

 

• I found my leader easily.
• I was able to find my group easily.
• I was also able to separate from the larger crowd to form a smaller group.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, sees various roles identified for a special purpose. First he saw powerful angels who could damage the earth and the sea, but were told not to by another angel, who had an important role. This angel gave instructions to mark 12,000 people with GOD’s special seal that may be used for protection and as well as an identifier.

 

My Observations:

• It’s amazing that GOD kept HIS promise to never leave the twelve tribes, even though they did some terrible things, like trying to kill Joseph.
• GOD has a very specific plan with specific roles and specific numbers.
• Another part of dismantling Satan’s temporary kingdom is to damage the earth and sea.

 

GOD is methodical. I mean, HE orchestrates plans for you and me that are precise. HE knows the numbers HE wants to use and when HE wants to use them. GOD’s power is shown through HIS angels, who could hold back wind.

 

HE does things for a reason, many times we don’t understand. Fortunately for us, HIS plans are to prosper us, not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer list the tribes of Israel?
• Have you ever had a special role?
• Will you accept JESUS as your Savior so you can be adopted into HIS family and given a role to play today?

Willing Leader

Willing Leader

1 Peter 5: I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Christ's sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you ² to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. ³ Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but be examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will never lose its brightness.

 

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“We’re giving you a couple of people to manage” were the exciting words I wanted to hear in my young career. I did so with vim and vigor! But over time I got more and more responsibility. Soon I had an entire department. “Do you want more people?” they asked. I was reluctant.

 

• I knew how difficult it was to manage people.
• I knew the troubles I would face because I had led people for years.
• Leadership was not what I thought it would be.

 

Peter appealed to church elders, or leaders within a given gathering of believers of JESUS. He gave his personal testimony of how he witnessed the sufferings of CHRIST. He also told everyone that he would share in the glory once JESUS returns. But then he turns to an appeal to “willingly” be a servant leader. He probably did this because he knew how hard leadership was.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to willingly lead selfish, unruly people to a place of peace.
• GOD wants me to humble myself to be a servant leader.
• JESUS is the “Chief Shepherd” who will give me a crown that will not lose its brightness.

 

Many people think leadership is easy until he or she has to do so. I mean, I had plenty of complaints about what leaders were doing or not doing, until I had to be one. Then I realized, I could not be all things to all people. What was I to do? GOD had a remedy.

 

HE placed me and other leaders on a path that serves others. This is a different leadership style that leverages influence over coercion. Servant leaders wants people to grow up to become servant leaders so they provide the example of how to follow CHRIST to the best of his or her abilities. I am glad GOD gives me a flock to serve.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer appeal to the church elders to lead “willingly?”
• Have you ever worked for someone who hated his or her job?
• If you are in leadership for CHRIST, will you consider “willingly” serving those who may be difficult to serve so they can see your example and turn to CHRIST someday?

Plenty to Do

Plenty to Do

Hebrews 5: Every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins. ² Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes. ³ And because he is himself weak, he must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins. ⁴ No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God's call that a man is made a high priest—just as Aaron was.

 

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When the position opened, I applied for it. I did not get the position, because It was clearly not in my skillset. But I wanted a promotion. A mentor said, “Don’t worry. It will come. Just be patient..” I did get promoted later.

 

• I wanted to be in charge.
• I wanted to be chosen to lead a group.
• I wanted to be in a higher position, but I could not place myself in it.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, wrote about the position of the High Priest. He explained that the High Priest was fallible. Although prone to mistakes, the High Priest was called by GOD for HIS purpose.

 

My Observations

• Though I am not called to be a High Priest, I still have plenty to do to serve the LORD.
• Even if I am not a pastor, I can lead many people back to CHRIST.
• My service to the LORD does not depend on who is leading a group of people.

 

Atonement for sin is no longer through a High Priest. I mean, JESUS was and is the ultimate sacrifice, taking away the need to use the blood of animals to symbolize the washing away of sins. HIS sacrifice provided the necessary blood to save me.

 

JESUS then sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me after being raised from the dead. The HOLY SPIRIT guides me to serve others and be served when I need to be picked up. I am glad GOD cared enough for me to put me in HIS plan.

 

Challenge

• What sticks out to you in this passage?
• Have you ever wanted to be in charge?
• Will you allow GOD to open your eyes to all that is needed to be done, so you can take your eyes off of someone else’s life and accept HIS calling on your life today?

An Excellent Work

 

An Excellent Work

1 Timothy 3: This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work. ² A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife,^[a] be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach; ³ he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money; ⁴ he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. ⁵ For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? ⁶ He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was. ⁷ He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil's trap.

 

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Desiring to be the top leader in my field, at the company, I took steps to get the title. I went to leadership classes, speaking classes and refined the way I carried myself. I knew perception was important, so I hung out with the higher-ups as often as I could.

 

• I never once thought leading a church would be more important than a corporate pursuit.
• I judged preachers and pastors at a higher standard.
• I wondered if preachers and pastors wanted to be “excellent.”

 

Paul gave Timothy a method of vetting out a church leader. He was probably addressing a problem with “motive.” He gave a list of qualities that would narrow down the list. He also gave a stern warning that required more observation, namely watching those who would not easily be swelled up with pride and those who loved their community so they would not fall into the Devil’s trap.

 

My Observations

• Church leadership should not be taken lightly by me or anyone else.
• My motives for leading should always be vetted out by the LORD.
• Anyone can be tempted by the Devil with pride, money, violence, drunkenness and mismanagement of the family or community.

 

Desiring excellence for GOD may lead me to say, “maybe not me right now.” I mean if I am mismanaging my family or doing anything else on this list, I may not be the right fit for leading. BUT GOD has a plan for everyone.

 

HE does not look at titles the way humans do. JESUS is the only High Priest. HE allows some people to teach a group of people about our LORD and Savior JESUS, but the reward is the same, namely eternal life. Any crown earned here on earth will be casted at JESUS. I am glad GOD included me in HIS plan no matter the role.

 

Challenge

• What sticks out to you about this list and why?
• Why do you think the writer was concerned enough to send a warning?
• Will you seek to serve the LORD with the excellence you put into your other pursuits today?

Misread Ticket

Luke 14: ⁷ So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: ⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; ⁹ and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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“Would you like something to drink” the flight attendant asked me. I was shocked because not only were we still on the ground, passengers were still boarding. “Sure” I replied thinking to myself, “First class is wonderful!”

This elation was followed by “Excuse me. You are in my seat.” I misread the ticket and was in the row just behind first class. Everyone on the plane seemed to watch me move.

• There were times when I wanted the best places.
• There were times when I felt I “deserved” fist class treatment.
• Three were times when I got upset at “those” people who did not know how to travel right.

JESUS spoke in a parable about choosing the lowest seat first otherwise the person may get embarrassed when told to move. HE wasn’t just speaking about chairs, HE was speaking to the church leaders who loved their titles, numbers of people in their congregation and most of all the amounts of money to be had. These leaders had overlooked the ONE who deserved the best.

• GOD wants me to seek true humility that resonates from HIM.
• GOD wants me to need JESUS to be first instead of “me” getting the credit.
• GOD wants me to accept being a servant seeking to bring people to HIM.

Having a title is not the problem, its needing the title that caused blindness, When I seek to be more and more, then GOD may say, “That seat is reserved for someone else” and tell me to sit somewhere outside of HIS kingdom.

GOD wants me to recognize HIS power and accept HIM as being GOD. HE is supreme and JESUS has the rightful seat above everyone. I seek to be less so HE can make me more. HE is my savior.

• Do you feel you deserve more?
• What are you seeking in your heart?
• Can you place GOD above all things and allow HIM to guide you to the place you need to be?

Being Lead to the Right Place

Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

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It’s easy to have a favorite scripture and this is probably one of the top for me. There are so many nuggets of wisdom that can be grasped from David as he was filled with elation, gratitude, reality and possibly fear.

Here is what I heard this morning.

• I need to listen to the LORD who is the ultimate guide (shepherd).
• I should not want for anything rather understand GOD’s provisions for today.
• GOD gives me peace in lush places and restores my sinful soul with forgiveness.
• Even though I will face things that worry me or scare me I will have no fear because GOD is with me, correcting me and nudging me in the right direction.
• In the middle of calamity I have a feast and GOD gives me a purpose for which good works come and mercy towards me and those I speak to will abound. I will be with GOD forever!

Are you allowing GOD to guide you or are you resisting where HE is taking you?

Do you thank GOD for what you have received this day?

Can you give your fear to GOD and let HIM prepare a meal in the presence of what is scaring you?

Can you see HIS blessings?

True Leadership

2 Samuel ¹⁵ David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 

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Blame was the name of the game at this particular company. My boss and my boss’s boss played the game extremely well. I wasn’t so good at it but I wanted to get ahead.  With my tiny team of three I worked to get things done. 

One person on my team was quite obnoxious because he was very knowledgeable on the system. Our tiny team would go around in circles because of arguments and discussions brought up by this guy! I thought to myself… I can blame him for our slow delivery. That was a huge mistake!

• I show poor leadership when I blame my people.
• I show poor leadership when I don’t resolve issues quickly.
• I show poor leadership when I am not sure of my direction.

This horrible experience taught me what a poor leader looks like.  After licking my wounds from the beating I received I had a lot of questions. What does a good leader look like? GOD had my answer.

• GOD says in order to be great I must be the least amongst my people.
• GOD says in order to confront people I must understand what love and compassion is.
• GOD says in order to lead many I must follow HIM for HE holds the correct path in HIS hands.

I was so busy trying to be the title that I was not being a good leader. I didn’t know my team, I didn’t know their strengths nor their weaknesses. I focused on the end goal and would get there with a lot of wounds. BUT GOD wanted me to act different. GOD wanted me to treat people right, confront with compassion and reward them for their accomplishments.

He wanted me to accept my position as a leader by following HIM and being led by HIS plans.

• Are you leading a group?
• Do you have Blame on your lips?
• Can you turn your blame into understanding of “that” person?
• Won’t you bring GOD into your leadership style and serve your team rather than forcing them to do your bidding?