Path to Leadership

Today I begin a leadership study that I will be doing with several others at work, utilizing Handbook To Leadership. It is a 52 week study of leadership values in Scripture, 5 days a week. The type of study that you can tailor to the time you have for study and reflection, but one that you would definitely prosper from spending more, rather than less time. It is a great leadership guide for those of you looking for something easy to work with. The study I am embarking on is just part of the book, it is rich in biblical resources that help you study leadership and the character of leaders that is grounded in Scripture.

Make your ear attentive to wisdom,Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
Proverbs 2:2-3 (NASB)

These are a few of the verses in today's reading, the first day of the study. The message is clear to me: leaders need to search continually. Search for wisdom and discernment. Leaders do not get to rest in this search, the job is never finished, the goal is never reached. But the journey can be so rich.

Those who look to you to lead will benefit greatly from your search, but it is you who will prosper the most, for you will have gained more wisdom and discernment if you seek the wisdom of the Lord. The Bible is a great manual on leadership if you just seek out the wisdom contained within, place their by God for our benefit and comfort. It does not matter whether you lead in business, government, or ministry. Leaders must lead, leaders must search, leaders must learn.

As you cannot rest in leadership, it is a good thing you can rest in Christ as your Lord. He will get you through your journey, take you where you need to go as a leader, if you let Him lead you.

Changes

I seem to be on a one day lag of getting my thoughts in line on my daily readings. I read yesterday from the same two sources that I did the day before, Chambers and Boa. In different parts of Scripture, but they triggered similars thoughts for me:

and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 (NASB)



But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.

He prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.

"Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life."

The LORD said, "Do you have good reason to be angry?"

Jonah 4:1-4 (NASB)

Chambers talked about the need for continuous conversion, even after the point at which we have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Boa talked about doing what is right in God's eyes. Jonah was angry that God saved the people who we the tormentors of Jonah's people. Instead of joy at the glory to God shown by this change of heart, Jonah was filled with self righteous anger. Jonah needed some of the continuous conversion that Chambers talks about.

How many times have I been angry that God's plans do not line up with mine? How many times have you? Probably planty for both of us. If we call ourselves children of God, how can we be angry when the Father is glorified? How can we be mad when the sacrifice of the Son is fulfilled in some way before our eyes?

Yet constantly we need be reminded to have a child-like faith in Jesus. Because we are proud, and self righteous, and oh so much better than others.

Yeah, right.

Dark Victory Of The Battle Within

I read two verses yesterday in different places but they struck the same chord within me:

"If you will return, O Israel," declares the LORD,
"Then you should return to Me
And if you will put away your detested things from My presence,
And will not waver,..." Jeremiah 4:1 (NASB)


Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,You people of Gomorrah.

"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD.
"I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.

"When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
"Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

Isaiah 1:10-13 (NASB)

The first is from Oswald Chambers - My Utmost For His Highest. The second from Ken Boa - Handbook To Leadership. Both struck me the same way as I read the comments both authors made on the Scripture verses. Our battle is inside us first. Coming before others and battling our sin, calling on God does not work. Coming before God alone and facing our sin in the darkness of our hearts, seeking His help, His victory over our sin is the way to approach it. Win with God before God, call to Jesus alone in your own desert, then come out and face the world.

It is not that I think I will sin no more if I have done that. It is that I know if I face my Lord alone and face up to my sins, I can go forth confident that I will overcome the struggle in the world. I have to put Christ deep into my heart before I can put Him on display in my life before the world.

Living in the world is a struggle, but the real battle is fought and won (or lost) within us. You have to fight it in the dark by yourself until the Light breaks through.