I'm
giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year,
following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post
whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A
friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as
reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change
me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we
can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!
- Andy Catts
Day 48, February 6, 2014
Readings: Psalm 48, Genesis 43, 2 Chronicles 21, Acts 15:1-35
There are many kinds of leaders on this earth - business leaders, government leaders, family leaders and more. But there is a universal characteristic that defines their success, their temperament and, ultimately, the outcome of their followers: their motivation. The why behind their leadership.
The kingdoms of Israel have a lot of recorded history on their leaders - and in this, we have a lot to learn. From king to king, it can be easily seen how the king's driving force leads the nation - to riches or ruin. Jehoshaphat was a good king, He was motivated by a heart that loved God. His son, however...
Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
And the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and of the Arabians who are near the Ethiopians. And they came up against Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions they found that belonged to the king's house, and also his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son. (2 Chronicles 21:3-4, 6-7, 16-17)
Who do you lead in your life? Your family? Your company? Your students? Your co-workers? Leadership is a responsibility, a privilege and not for the faint of heart. God calls us to be motivated by our love for Him and for others, not by our own personal gain. Jehoram is a pretty obvious example, of course, but the truth is still there, and real. We are not so far removed from Jehoram.
I encourage you to take a look - contrast the lives of Jehoram and Jesus. How did they both live out their title as king? What did they do with their time, efforts and resources? And what was the end result? Who would you want to be your leader? How does this change the way you lead others?
There are many kinds of leaders on this earth - business leaders, government leaders, family leaders and more. But there is a universal characteristic that defines their success, their temperament and, ultimately, the outcome of their followers: their motivation. The why behind their leadership.
The kingdoms of Israel have a lot of recorded history on their leaders - and in this, we have a lot to learn. From king to king, it can be easily seen how the king's driving force leads the nation - to riches or ruin. Jehoshaphat was a good king, He was motivated by a heart that loved God. His son, however...
Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
And the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and of the Arabians who are near the Ethiopians. And they came up against Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions they found that belonged to the king's house, and also his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son. (2 Chronicles 21:3-4, 6-7, 16-17)
Who do you lead in your life? Your family? Your company? Your students? Your co-workers? Leadership is a responsibility, a privilege and not for the faint of heart. God calls us to be motivated by our love for Him and for others, not by our own personal gain. Jehoram is a pretty obvious example, of course, but the truth is still there, and real. We are not so far removed from Jehoram.
I encourage you to take a look - contrast the lives of Jehoram and Jesus. How did they both live out their title as king? What did they do with their time, efforts and resources? And what was the end result? Who would you want to be your leader? How does this change the way you lead others?
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