Author: admin

There is a profound difference between being a peacemaker and compromising with evil. While we should love every person, we must never be unclear about our stance toward sin and evil. At times Christians are more concerned with “fitting in” or not “making waves” than they are about upholding righteousness. In our efforts to be peaceable, we inadvertently make compromises. God did not call us to make friends with darkness. He called us to be salt and light. If we are not careful we will dim our light so it does not offend our dark friends.

Jehoshaphat was a good man who chose to see the best in people. He may have disdained conflict. Or, he may have mistakenly assumed that unity is always the highest good. The result was an alliance with one of the wickedest leaders of the ages. He even entered an alliance of marriage with the wicked king Ahab. Just as Jesus declared that people were either for Him or against Him, so when it comes to evil there is no neutral ground. We either hate what God hates, or we love it.

While Jehoshaphat was able to guard his heart from the evil of Ahab, his children could not. His son Jehoram was married to Ahab’s daughter (2 Chronicles 21:6). Jehoram ruled not as his righteous father had, but in the evil ways of his father-in-law Ahab. He butchered his own brothers and acted wickedly. Jehoram’s wife Athaliah would later massacre Jehoshaphat’s grandchildren in order to gain power for herself (2 Chronicles 22:10). Could Jehoshaphat have dreamed that his partnership with an ungodly leader would lead to the massacre of his children and grandchildren? The seeds of his spiritual carelessness led to a devastating harvest among his descendants. Do you truly hate what God hates?

Do you know anyone who is too far gone to return to God? Some people have hardened themselves to God’s word. Others have passionately embraced sin. Some people seem so profane that only a miracle could make them confess their need for God. Ahab was such a man. Few people in biblical history rank as high as he does on the “hardened sinner” scale as he does. Married to Jezebel, he reached new depths in sinfulness and abominations. One would think there was nothing that could turn his calloused heart back to God.

But only God knows peoples’ hearts. In fact, there was a moment in Ahab’s debauched life when he realized he had gone too far. God’s judgment was imminent and it terrified the wicked ruler. Ahab, the opponent of Elijah, actually humbled himself and asked for God’s mercy. How did God respond when the wickedest king to rule Israel pled for mercy? God showed him grace. If there was ever a person who did not deserve mercy it was him. But God loved Ahab. God desired for him to him to repent of his sins and to return to the true God. Right to the end of Ahab’s life, God was reaching out to him and warning him of where his rebellion would lead. Ultimately Ahab chose to reject God’s grace and to embark on his own destructive path. But God gave him a chance. In Ahab’s case, he chose rebellion. In the case of murderers such as Moses, David, and Saul of Tarsus, God’s grace brought transformation.

Is there someone you work with or deal with that you would rank in the category of Ahab? Has God given up on him or her? Have you? When we give up on anyone, we are saying we believe there are people so difficult even God’s grace is insufficient to set them free.

We may be private people, but we do not live our lives in secret. Whether they like it or not, leaders are placed upon a stage and people around them are always watching. In addition, the media constantly reminds us that one false step and we could be tomorrow’s headlines. Those truths alone ought to compel us to watch our step. But the most sobering reality is that everything we do is done “in the eyes of the Lord.” We must never forget that God sees everything we do.

We have a tendency to justify our behavior and to put it into the best light. If only people will let us explain, we can show them why our angry outburst was justified or our delay was explainable or our neglect should be excused . . . But the key is whether God, after having observed our behavior, considers it to have been “right.” We can argue all day that it was but ultimately what makes our behavior good is when God declares it to be.

Have you been living your life with the keen awareness that everything you do is being closely observed by a heavenly audience? Have you been vociferously pleading the justness of your behavior rather than seeking God’s opinion on the matter? We may not be able to fool others but we regularly deceive ourselves as to our righteousness. Why not try living this entire day with the ongoing, tangible reality that God is observing everything you do?

Our youth is an exhilarating time to pursue our dreams, uphold our ideals, and take stands for what we believe to be righteous causes. What we lack in experience and knowledge we make up for with youthful passion and zeal. Many a revival has been sparked by the enthusiasm of young people who chose to live their lives authentically and consecrated to God.

Tragically, however, as time passes, our passion for God can wane. We become distracted with numerous cares, concerns, and temptations. Over the years our idealism can deteriorate into cynicism. We can be tempted to neglect our relationship with God because of our numerous responsibilities only to discover that our love for Him has grown cold. We can mistakenly assume that we can function on yesterday’s walk with God. It takes effort to do the God-honoring thing every day! Unfortunately we can sometimes feel too tired to make the effort to do the right thing any more.

After years of walking with God, we ought to be enjoying the deepest, most profound relationship with Him of our lives. We should have moved beyond the shallow, emotion driven commitments of our youth to a deep, abiding relationship characterized by unshakeable faith and obedience. But that is not always so. Have the years softened your heart toward God or made it calloused and hard? Is your commitment to obey God whatever the cost greater than it has ever been? Have you reached new levels of insight into God’s word? Is your prayer life richer than it was five years ago? Or, along your leadership journey, did your heart turn from God, even slightly, so that today you find yourself far from where you were in your youth?

It is tempting to think that God made us leaders because of our faithfulness or because of His love for us. But what if He raised us into a leadership position because He loves His people? Solomon’s road to the throne was a windy and treacherous one. Many powerful enemies and difficult obstacles stood in his path. But, God chose to make him king nonetheless. King Hiram of Tyre was not a believer, but even he could recognize that Solomon’s wise leadership was a gift of God to His people.

Unfortunately for the people, Solomon began to view his leadership position as a gift of God to himself. He lived extravagantly and taxed his people exorbitantly to fund his lavish lifestyle. By the time Solomon’s son succeeded him, the people were at a point of open revolt against such leadership.

Those who strive for leadership positions because of what it means for them betray their sacred calling. God wants to bless people and He often does so through leaders He raises up. Is your leadership a gift to others? Are people grateful that God elevated you to your position? Or, have you viewed your role as God’s gift to you? How you live and lead reveals your attitude.

Scripture repeatedly testifies to the wisdom with which David conducted himself as a young man. Traditionally, Solomon, David’s son, is best known for his renowned wisdom. But apparently wisdom was a family trait. Where others acted foolishly, or selfishly, or without thinking, David acted wisely. He became known for his prudent choices and he subsequently experienced success in his ventures. King Saul eventually began to feel threatened by his subordinate’s success and began to disdain David’s constant victories and the favor he enjoyed among the people. In fact David’s character, reputation, faithfulness, and constant display of God’s favor drove King Saul to hate David and to seek his death. Living and leading wisely does not make you immune from enemies or hardship!

This was one of the greatest testing times of David’s leadership and devotion to God. He had always conducted himself with integrity and loyalty toward his leaders, yet they responded by hating and resenting him. David had always acted faithfully and loyally to God and to his king. There was nothing anyone could point to that suggested that David was corrupt, disloyal, or had selfish ambitions. What do godly leaders do when their good deeds are construed as evil and their integrity is rewarded with hostility? What God saw in David’s heart as a shepherd would sustain him through the difficult days of questioning and opposition. Though he lost home, family, position, influence, and seemingly his future, David refused to dishonor God or discard his values. He would not stoop to the level of his adversary, but his integrity, character, and principles remained solidly intact. His faith in God, though he had questions (1 Samuel 19:18), was unwavering. David chose to live his life with integrity regardless of the consequences. Though this brought him difficult challenges, God ultimately vindicated him. David was content to live his life with the assurance that his life and future were in God’s hands. As a result, few people in biblical history were used to bless God’s people as he was.

While we may claim to trust the Lord, what we turn to in times of difficulty reveals where our true confidence rests. When problems arise, do we immediately call our friends? Bankers? Investors? Colleagues? Mentors? Or, do we immediately turn our attention to our Lord? David did take a slingshot with him to meet Goliath, but it was a toy compared to the giant’s seemingly invincible armor and weaponry. So ludicrous did it appear to Goliath that he laughed in derision when he watched the youth approach him.

Leaders have skills, experience and various resources at their disposal and they use them wisely. But they also know that their ultimate confidence rests in their relationship with God. All the resources in the world cannot guarantee success if God is opposed to us! But, when God goes with us, even the most meager of resources is adequate for the task!

David did not claim to have the power to defeat Goliath. He did not delineate his battle strategy to his brothers, or presume to know anything about war at all. He only knew God was with him and it was God who would get both the victory and the glory. “The battle is the Lord’s” was his strategy. “He will hand you over to us” was his only plan. He took what he had with him when God called him into service, and faced the giant just as he had previously faced the bear and the lion. The result was the same but the impact was far greater than he could have imagined.

We must ask ourselves where we have placed our confidence. Do we really understand that the battle is the Lord’s, or do we think the battle is ours and the Lord can help if we get in over our head? Does our prayer life reflect our confidence in an almighty God? What does our worry reveal? The leader God saw within a shepherd boy was drawn out in extremely difficult and challenging circumstances. While other soldiers cowered in the shadow of the giant, the shepherd boy, their future king, with no armor or modern weapons, actually ran towards the battle line! To be so confident in God regardless of the circumstances demonstrates incredible, God-honoring faith.

The world is filed with people who challenge and even mock the people of God. Often God’s people can be intimidated into remaining silent or even compromising their beliefs and values. It often seems easier to avoid conflict and ride out the storm. However, sometimes, someone needs to speak up. If evil is given an inch, it will soon demand a mile. The powers of darkness cannot tolerate it when people remain loyal and obedient to God and His standards.

David was not the most experienced person present, nor was he in a position of leadership. No one expected him to do anything in light of the imposing challenge before them. There wasn’t even any armor available that fit the young man. But David had something that is indispensible to leaders: courage. His bravery did not arise from foolish, youthful bravado. It was based on his walk with God. He had relied upon God’s protection when he single-handedly fought a bear and a lion and God had proven His provision was more than adequate. David’s faith was not a blind faith. It was based on experience. On what David had seen.

David understood that, with a greater challenge came a greater provision from God. Unlike other people present that day; David’s faith was not theoretical. He lived his faith daily. When the imposing giant began to taunt God’s people, David told his king, “Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:32). Such courage and unwavering faith in God would lead David to become the greatest leader in his nation’s history.

What giant is presently challenging you? How are your actions reflecting what you believe about God? Are you letting the enemies of God intimidate you? Have you been bullied into silence? Or, do you sense that God wants to show Himself strong through your life? How you respond to those situations reveal your fitness as a leader.

Don’t be surprised when someone questions your intentions. Not everyone will understand your heart or what you sense God wants you to do. Those who oppose you will question your integrity, resolve, loyalty, and competency. But God has not asked them to do the task; He has called on you.

How you respond to your critics reveals how easily you can be discouraged or distracted from your divine assignment. Will you let those around you cause you to second-guess God’s call on your life or the task to which He assigned to you? Will you delay your obedience because problems arise? Will you begin to doubt God’s word in light of what your opponents say? Your loyalty and obligations are not primarily to your colleagues or team members but to God. He will ultimately vindicate you and He will show everyone who opposed you what He can do through one person who is willing to whole-heartedly follow Him.

Let God be your defender and champion and you will not need to worry about your future in the company or whether or not the right people notice you in order to get promoted. God may be looking to see whether or not you will be faithful to Him because He has something of greater significance planned for you in the days to come.

Samuel was searching for a king, so he looked for a man with impressive credentials. He viewed the candidates for royalty through his own eyes, but quickly learned that appearances, though impressive to people, are unimpressive to God. To God, no one is ugly or handsome or beautiful or strong or intelligent.

For Him, there are only two categories: obedient and disobedient. God is the one who accomplishes the miraculous through His people. Whether or not a person is pretty or homely makes no difference. Their height and muscle density are irrelevant. How well they talk, their Ivy League credentials, how adept they are with technology are inconsequential to whether or not their heart is right before God. When God rejected every one of David’s brothers, Samuel was confused. “Are all the young men here?” he asked. Jesse replied, “There is yet the youngest, and he is keeping our sheep.” The youngest was the smallest and the weakest who traditionally received the smallest portion of the inheritance. The baby of the family was teased, left to do the dirty work, often bullied by his older brothers, and had to work extra hard to even be noticed. Yet in God’s eyes, he was a perfect candidate to lead the nation. His heart was right. His focus was on target. His attitude was pleasing to God.

A resume will highlight what impresses people, but it may not reveal what is important to God. Integrity, character, focus, and a pure heart are revealed in one’s relationships and in how a person spends their time and money. Ask God to show you a person’s heart the next time you are hiring staff or team members. God notices the seemingly small things. When it comes to people, are you concerned with the same things God is?