Memorise: And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Matthew 20:27
Read: 2 Samuel 23:1-5
1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
Bible in one year: 2 Kings 3-4, Acts 8:26-40
AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
1. The nature and purpose of leadership has been misunderstood by mankind from time immemorial, and this is the reason why most people crave for leadership positions so much.
2. Leadership, when viewed from the right perspective, can be very enslaving, because the fame and popularity that come along with it may take away your sleep and freedom. However, when God puts you in a leadership position, He will also give you the grace to conduct yourself appropriately to meet His expectations.
3. God’s expectation of what leadership should be is explained by the Lord Jesus Christ in today’s memory verse.
4. It is amazing that even the disciples did not understand God’s principles on leadership. This is evident in the fact that it was their agitation over who among them would occupy the highest position that led Jesus to explain what leadership really means.
5. From God’s perspective, leadership means to serve.
6. It is no longer news that leadership in the Church today is out of tune with our Lord’s expectation of leaders being servants.
7. Some leaders use their leadership position to oppress those under them. Proverbs 29:2 says: When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
8. It is dangerous for a leader to oppress his or her subordinates because as they groan and cry unto God under such leaders, heaven will respond and the consequences that follow might be devastating. This has led to the destruction of several people who held leadership positions.
9. Frankly speaking, from God’s perspective, leadership is synonymous to servitude. It is servitude because a leader is expected to be under God’s absolute control, living a life of total submission that is enslaved to doing God’s will (Hebrews 10:7).
10. A leader must lay aside personal freedom take on the yoke of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:29).
11. As a leader, taking on the Lord’s yoke means you have relinquished control over the manner of your speech, the places you go to and the things you do.
12. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself had to do all these as our leader John 5:19, John 8:28, John 12:49). In John 5:30, He said: “ I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
13. If you find yourself in a leadership position, you have to be careful of what you do with the priviledge of leading God’s heritage, so that you will not be damned in the end (1 Peter 5:1-4).
SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS
The last paragraph in today’s devotional should be given so much attention so that we can make correction or take heed as the case may be. The common saying “Leadership by good example” means the leader must first do whatever it is he expects the followers to do. This was evident in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as He is our model, we should emulate and do His will all round. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in wisdom and grace in Jesus name.
Prayer Point: Father, thank You for the privilege of being a leader over Your people; please help me to lead Your people according to your expectations
Hymn
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
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