The One Job of a Leader

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 18-21, Psalms 68

Leaders have one job. To lead with righteousness and justice. This is especially true the higher up in leadership one ascends. It’s true in every facet of life. Parents are to lead their families with righteousness and justice. Pastors and elders are to lead their churches with righteousness and justice. Business leaders are to lead their employees and organizations with righteousness and justice. Civic and political leaders are to lead with righteousness and justice. Why? Because righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne. (Psalms 97:2) When we lead or rule or exercise whatever authority we’ve been given with righteousness and justice, the people and organizations we serve are blessed because we are patterning our leadership after God. When we lead or rule or exercise whatever authority we’ve been given with pride and selfishness and greed, the people and organizations we serve suffer and are cursed as a result. We see this on display in David’s life in our passage today.

David begins well. He is given victory after victory by God. He triumphs over his enemies. Whoever raises an army against him is defeated. As a result, David consolidates his power. He solidifies his reign over the Promised Land. The people of Israel become a nation under his banner and leadership and are blessed. Why? 1 Chronicles 18:14 CSB gives us the answer. “So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.” However, David’s reign of blessing soon comes to an end as he falls prey to pride. He calls for a census. He wants to count the soldiers serving in his army. He wants to quantify his military might. He wants to demonstrate his power to the nations around him. Let’s pause and reflect a moment. God has given David all kinds of victories over armies that vastly outnumbered his own. He has given David victory over giants and mighty warriors. He has expanded David’s territory and delivered entire nations into his hands. It’s still not enough. David has begun to believe his own hype. He’s reading his press clippings. He’s starting to believe he has accomplished these things by his own strength and military genius. These are unrighteous and unjust goals and it triggers a plague that kills seventy thousand of his men.

We are no different. Think about the impact of righteous and unrighteous political leaders in our nation. Think about righteous and unrighteous civic leaders in our communities. Think about the impact of righteous and unrighteous parents in the home or teachers in the schools or pastors in churches. Now think about yourself. Where do you lead righteously in your life? Where do you lead unrighteously? What would those under your leadership say? How do they experience you? Do you seek to be a blessing to others or are you seeking to serve yourself?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 22-24, Psalms 69 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Trust

Readings for today: 2 Kings 18-19, Psalms 106

Trust is the most important currency when it comes to leadership. If one trusts a leader, one will be willing to do just about anything for them. If one doesn’t trust a leader, they will do as little as possible. It’s been said that organizations move at the speed of trust. Families depend on trust. Friendships are built on trust. Trust is everything.

One of the most striking parts of the story we read today is the trust God’s people have in King Hezekiah. The Assyrians were one of the most fearsome and brutal empires of the ancient world. Sennacherib was one of their greatest kings. Assyria had already wiped out the northern kingdom of Israel. They had taken the people into exile, scattering them in different places so they would never rise up in rebellion. This was Assyria’s standard operating procedure. Now it was the southern kingdom’s turn to feel their wrath and come under their control. They brought a massive army to the gates of Jerusalem and laid siege to the city. There was no hope of fighting back. No chance of escape. The sight must have been completely demoralizing. To add insult to injury, Sennacherib sends his envoy to the city to call for their surrender. He cites the litany of victories his king has won. He talks about all the so-called gods who have fallen before them. He even claims divine sanction for his mission of violence. The whole point of this exercise is to shake the faith of the people in Hezekiah. But the people refuse to respond. Their trust in Hezekiah is absolute and well-founded. Hezekiah turns to God for help and the Assyrians are destroyed.

It’s an incredible testimony to the power of trust. Trust in God. Trust in godly leadership. Trust in one another. And such trust doesn’t rise in a vacuum. It was built on years of faithful leadership from their king. Hezekiah turned the hearts of his people back to God. He tore down the high places. He destroyed all the idols. He prospered in all sorts of ways because he trusted God. And because Hezekiah trusted God, his people trusted him. They believed in him. They followed him. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, they never lost their faith in Hezekiah’s leadership.

Now consider your own life. All of us lead in all sorts of ways in all kinds of situation. We lead in our families. We lead in our places of work. We lead in our churches. We are all given influence on some level. We are all given a certain amount of authority. What do we with it? Do we seek to build trust among those we lead by serving them? By doing all we can to make them successful and set them free? Or do we cling to our power and influence in order to control others? When we are able to trust one another, God can do great things in and through us. When trust is lost, life becomes a struggle. Where do you find yourself today?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 20-22, Psalms 107

Confirmation

Readings for today: Numbers 17-18, Psalms 45

One of the things I appreciate most about God is His willingness to give us signs. He doesn’t just ask us to take Him at His Word. He actually provides tangible, visible signs because He knows how easy it is for us to forget or lose heart. Abraham and Sarah received the sign of a child in their old age. Jacob was given all kinds of visions in the night. Joseph clearly interpreted the signs when his brothers showed up before him after he became a ruler in Egypt. Moses was given the sign of a burning bush, a parting in the Red Sea, the pillar of fire and cloud, and manna from heaven. These signs were also given to Israel to bolster their faith as they made their journey to the Promised Land.

Over the last few chapters, Moses has had to deal with significant conflict. The people he has been called to lead have rebelled against him. His own brother and sister have questioned his authority. He has been accused of all kinds of things. But, as we’ve seen, he remains humble and intercedes every single time on behalf of the people before God. Most recently, Moses had to confront the rebellion of Korah. They sought to overthrow his leadership. And what does Moses do? Does he marshal his forces and march against them? Does he call God’s people to take his side? Does he get angry and lash out? No. He puts his future in God’s hands. He calls on God to give them a sign. And God causes the earth to open and swallow Moses’ enemies. Tragically, the people blame Moses for the deaths of the family of Korah. Once again, Moses intercedes to save their lives. And that brings us to the passage for today where God confirms Moses’ leadership by causing Aaron’s staff to bud.

I have been a pastor for over twenty years now and I’ve seen my share of conflict. Leading God’s people is not always easy. First and foremost, I recognize that I am chief among sinners. I am compromised myself in so many ways. And that makes it hard at times to know if I am leading from a place of humility or a place of pride. Second, the people of God are also sinners. Shocking I know! ;-) And when we gather as a church all we are doing is bringing a bunch of sinful, broken people into close proximity. Is it any wonder that sparks often fly? I’ve felt the sting of betrayal. I’ve had people try to destroy my career by making false accusations against me. I’ve been criticized more times than I can count, much of it probably warranted. Thankfully, God has provided godly men and women in my life who have confirmed for me - over and over again - my call to lead. They have encouraged me and blessed me as well as spoken truth into my life and held me accountable. In short, God has used them as living “signs” to let me know His call on my life has not come to an end.

What about you? What signs has God given you in your life? As you look back over the course of your life, can you see where God provided the right people at the right time? Or perhaps intervened in a particular circumstance? Answered a prayer? Performed a miracle? These are signs given to encourage you, dear friends, as you seek to follow Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 19-21, Psalms 46

A Higher Standard

Readings for today: Leviticus 8-10, Psalm 32

I was always taught that leaders are held to a higher standard. As an Eagle Scout, I was held to a higher standard than a Tenderfoot. As a senior on the football and lacrosse teams, I was held to a higher standard than a freshman. As a leader in my college youth group, I was held to a higher moral standard than someone who just attended. As a Manager of Patient Access Services at Boulder Community Hospital, I was held to a higher standard than my employees. And, of course, as a pastor, I’ve always been held to a higher standard because of the nature of my position in the church.

It’s why it’s so painful when leaders fall. Over the years, I’ve been called to help in situations where pastors have failed. Sometimes it’s a moral failing usually having to do with sexual sin. Sometimes it’s a leadership failure usually having to do with the sin of pride. In either case, the fallout is brutal. The congregation suffers the most. Their trust is broken. Their faith is shaken. Their fellowship with believers is typically torn apart by division as people take sides. The pastor’s family suffers as well. Especially in the case of sexual sin, there is often a divorce. The wife and children lose friendships and community as the pastor is no longer allowed to be part of the church. And then there is the pastor themselves. The damage to the soul of their leadership is almost incalculable. Not to mention the loss of a job or career or livelihood. Most refuse to walk the road of restoration and instead try to find ways back in without having to repent. It’s painful to witness.

Nadab and Abihu are prime examples of what happens when leaders fall. They have been instructed by Moses in how to perform the sacred rites. They are entrusted with the worshipping life of Israel. Through their priestly actions, the people of Israel are given an opportunity to experience the glory of the Lord. There is no higher calling. Nothing more sacred or precious in ancient Israel than to be called a priest of the Living God. But they decide to do things their own way. They decide to offer “unauthorized fire” before the Lord. No one really knows what constituted the “unauthorized fire” but what we do know is it dishonored God. They deliberately presented something unholy before the Holy One and they paid the ultimate price. Fire came down from heaven and consumed them on the spot and they died “before the Lord.” Their disobedience was so severe, their father, Aaron, and their brothers, Eleazar and Ithamar, were forbidden to grieve. Why did God treat them so harshly? Here is what He says, “This is what the Lord has spoken: I will demonstrate my holiness to those who are near me, and I will reveal my glory before all the people.”(Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God will not be mocked. He will not be trifled with. He will not be taken for granted or treated with contempt. His glory and holiness are a double edged sword.

This is worth thinking about in our own lives. All of us hold positions of influence and power in some way, shape, or form in life. It may be in our homes. It may be at school or at work. It may be in our church or community. The greater the influence and power and leadership entrusted to us, the more God expects of us. The more He demands from us. And the greater the consequences when we fail. As Christians, all of us are called to a higher standard. The standard set by Jesus Christ. How are you seeking to embody that standard today?

Readings for tomorrow: Leviticus 11-13, Psalm 33

Second-Guessing

Readings for today: Exodus 4-6, Psalm 18

We all second-guess ourselves. We all question ourselves at times. Especially when we are about to make significant decisions or take great risks. I remember when I was thinking about asking my wife to marry me. Although I was pretty sure she would say “yes” after a year or so of dating, there were no guarantees. So I second-guessed myself. I wasn’t worthy of her love. I wasn’t the man she needed me to be. I didn’t have great job prospects after college. I wouldn’t be able to provide for her like I felt she deserved. I remember when I was getting ordained. Although I was pretty sure God had called me, I didn’t feel worthy to serve Him in this way. I know my sin. I know my struggles. I know my fears. I know my doubts. I wondered if these things disqualified me. I’ve served three churches since graduating from seminary. The risks in each situation were great. Things could have gone very wrong and in one case did. There were no guarantees that I would be successful in leading those churches. I was anxious at times. Struggled with self-confidence. Wondered at certain moments if I should go and do something else. But through it all, God was faithful. He kept encouraging me and working with me and challenging me to surrender more and more of my life to Him.

The same is true for everyone we encounter in Scripture, including great leaders like Moses. Today’s reading includes one of my favorite stories. I love how vulnerable Moses is before God. He expresses his fears and doubts. He wonders if he’s the right man for the job. He struggles to accept God’s call on his life. And how does God respond? He is patient. He works with Moses. Encourages Moses. Even gets stern and challenges Moses. As a result, Moses goes back to Egypt. Back to the place where he was wanted for murder. Back to the place where he grew up. He goes back to face his fears and failures. And he takes nothing with him except a staff and a promise from God. It’s a powerful example of how God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes.

Perhaps you know how Moses feels? Perhaps you’ve second-guessed yourself a time or two? Perhaps you have fears and questions and doubts? We all do. And the great news is God invites us to share those things with Him. He invites us to be vulnerable before Him. And He encourages us to remember it is not by our might or our power or our wisdom that we make our way in this world. It is by God’s Spirit. Read and re-read Psalm 18 today. Let those words fill your heart with the confidence that can only come from God. No matter what challenges you may be facing in your life, know that God is with you! “I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.” (Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Exodus 7-9, Psalm 19

Role Models

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21:1-22:9

One of the main reasons I try to change versions and/or translations each year when I read through the Bible is get a fresh read on the text. It keeps it from becoming rote or boring. For example, this year I’ve chosen to read using the Message version. Admittedly, it’s not word for word or even phrase by phrase. It’s a paraphrase which means the translator is doing their best to translate the original language into modern idioms that we can better understand.

For example, look at how 2 Chronicles 22:4 is translated…“After the death of his father, Ahaziah attended the sin school of Ahab, and graduated with a degree in doom.” Isn’t that good? It helps us understand why God was growing so angry with the kings of Judah. They were abandoning His laws and His ways and were choosing to follow the pagan ways of their northern cousins. The “sin school of Ahab” must have been very enticing. After all, Ahab ruled the northern kingdom of Israel for over twenty years. He was a successful warlord who won several victories that strengthened his kingdom. He made alliances through marriage with powerful city-states. His own father admired Ahab so much, he had started to imitate him and even married into Ahab’s family. So it must have felt very natural for Ahaziah to look to his older cousin as an example. Sadly, he couldn’t have chosen a worse role model.

How often do we make the same mistake in our lives? How often do we choose the popular, the rich, the powerful, the influential to imitate rather than people of character? Isn’t this one of the main problems we have in politics right now? A recent poll found that a majority of Americans across both parties believe our political system and political leaders are corrupt. It make sense when our airwaves and newsfeeds are filled with stories about laptops, classified documents, ethics violations, double-standards, tax evasion, violent rhetoric, hate speech, etc. It is further confirmed by the number of political leaders whose personal wealth increases dramatically while they are in office. And yet each election seems to be a race to the bottom when it comes to character. We jettison principle in favor of power. We excuse the egregious sins of our candidate as the “lesser of two evils.” It’s a brutal, Darwinian system that simply isn’t sustainable. Like Ahaziah, our leaders have gone to “sin school” and “graduated with a degree in doom.” It cannot end well.

There is a better way. It requires us to relinquish our obsession with power and instead look to men and women of godly character to lead us and set an example for us. This starts in our own personal lives with the role models we choose. Are we choosing men and women who fear the Lord? Who walk in wisdom? Who love others unconditionally? The next step is to think about the leaders we lift up in business, education, healthcare, churches, and the non-profit world. Are we choosing leaders who place the welfare of others before their own? Do we give the right voices airtime? Are we celebrating the right people for the right kind of success? Finally, we have to reconsider the way we elect our political leaders. Are we choosing men and women who have a heart to serve rather than be served? Are we looking for humility over arrogance? Respect over contempt? True patriots over those who are out for themselves? God honors those who seek to honor Him. The only role models worth following are those who put God first in their lives.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Good Leadership

Readings for today: Proverbs 21-24

What makes for good leadership? What’s the most important characteristic a good leader can cultivate? How should those of us who live under the authority of leaders, whether it be in the political or economic or educational or religious spheres, pray for them? How should we be interceding on their behalf before the Lord?

The most important quality of a good leader is humility. They are simply an instrument in God’s hands. They are a tool in God’s toolbox. As Proverbs 21:1 puts it in our reading today, “Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God.” Just as a stream doesn’t chart it’s own course but follows the contours of the land, so we are not the captains of our own destinies nor are we the masters of our own fates. There is so much beyond our control. So much going on in the world that we have little influence over. So much going on beneath the surface of even our own bodies that remains a mystery.

How many leaders get drunk on power? How many leaders abuse their position and authority? How many leaders exploit their resources? Sure, there are the easily identified examples. People who break the law or do horrible things. Their names are legion. Madoff. Epstein. Weinstein. Zacharias. Driscoll. The religious leaders who sexually abuse women and children. But what about the examples that are far more subtle? The ones that fly under the radar? What about someone like me? I am a leader in my home. How do my wife and children experience my leadership? I am a leader in my church. How those I work with, and among, experience my leadership? I am a leader in my denomination. How do my colleagues experience my leadership? Would any of them say Doug’s leadership is a “channel of water controlled by God?” Would any of them characterize me as a humble leader? I hope so.

Humility is not thinking more highly of oneself than one ought, nor thinking less of oneself than one ought. It’s simply thinking of oneself less. This is what it means to submit in humility to God. To let Him control the “channels” of your life. To let Him guide and direct your steps. It means never promoting oneself. Never protecting oneself. Never serving oneself. It means being content to labor in obscurity. Embrace anonymity. And pursue insignificance. It means taking the lowest place at the Master’s table, letting Him raise you up in His time and according to His will. It means letting God “direct your life to whatever ends He chooses.”

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

Humble Leadership

Readings for today: Numbers 10-13, Psalm 90

There seems to be a yearning in the human heart for deep connection. To God. To other human beings. There is a real craving in the world today for authenticity. A desire to “be real” and be known. I hear it all the time and I feel it down in my bones as well. The problem, of course, is most folks don’t really want to engage on an authentic level because it’s not very pretty when we do! We run into all kinds of sin and ugliness and we’re not very good at accepting each other’s faults. We aren’t very good at showing each other grace. We aren’t very good at forgiveness and reconciliation because such things take a lot of work. So we settle. We settle for less in our human relationships. We settle for not being known. Not being understood. Not being connected. And worst of all, we settle in our relationship with God. We only let Him in so far. We only let Him reign and rule over parts of our lives, not the whole. We only submit halfway and the result is a lot of pain and suffering and heartache. 

Nothing’s new under the sun. The people of God have been struggling with these things for thousands of years. It’s like the struggle is hardwired into our system by the Fall. (Remember that tragic event in Genesis 3? It frames everything!) You think about the blessings Israel enjoyed. A literal pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. God visibly present among them! God’s glory filling the Tabernacle. Moses literally speaking to God on their behalf. Silver trumpets blowing every time they went forth to remind them God would be with them. The parting of the Red Sea. The deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Rescue from the plagues. Manna in the wilderness. The miracles they experienced were incredible! And still they complained! Still they struggled to believe! Still they rebelled!

“And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.” (Num. 11:1) 

“Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat!” (Num. 11:4)

“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the Lord heard it.” (Num. 12:1-2)

“And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them." (Num. 13:33)

Leading God’s people has never been easy. There is always complaining. Always whining. Always criticism. But guess what? That’s real! That’s authentic! That’s people being themselves. And if we’re honest, none of us are immune. Even Moses complains, “I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.” (Num. 11:14) So what’s the answer? Humility. One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is Numbers 12:3, “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” What a statement! Moses’ leadership was not based on his power or eloquence or influence or wealth or talent. It was based primarily on his humility. His meekness. And because Moses considered others more important than himself, he wasn’t threatened. God put His Spirit on other leaders. He wasn’t threatened when God’s Spirit showed up in other parts of the camp. Reminds me of the famous quote from Harry Truman, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.”  

Humility gives us the ability to accept other people for who they are...warts and all. It gives us the ability to extend grace even in difficult circumstances. It gives us the ability to address the log in our own eye first before we go to pluck the dust out of our brother or sister’s eyes. Most importantly, it is humility that allows us to submit our lives to the Lord and to follow in His ways.

Readings for tomorrow: Numbers 14-16, Psalm 95

A Mighty Man

Readings for today: Genesis 10-11

Father, your Word brings life. Life to my spirit. Life to my mind. Life to my heart. Life to my body. It reminds of my purpose which is to worship You and serve You and enjoy You forever. Through your Spirit share with me more deeply how to become the man You created me to be.  

Nimrod. A mighty hunter before the Lord. A legendary king. A powerful tribal warlord. The “first on earth to be a mighty man.” The man who founded Babel. Is he the architect of the tower? Is he the one who puts the plans together to build a ziggurat to the heavens? Does he convince the people they don’t need God? To build a monument to themselves? Is he one of the primary reasons they disobey the command to “be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth?” It wouldn’t surprise me. Even a cursory glance at human history reveals our tendency to fall for the strong man. The mighty man. The egotistical man. The narcissistic man. Who is lauded in our history books? Who is extolled for their leadership? I remember several years ago coming across a best-selling business book titled, “Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun” and thinking to myself, “surely, this isn’t serious?” Attila the Hun? One of the most brutal and terrifying kings in human history? This is the guy we’re supposed to emulate? And lest you think we’ve progressed beyond this myth in our modern era, consider how leaders like Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping or some of our own political leaders carry themselves? Consider how much we idolize celebrity or social influencers? Heck, even the church has bought into this leadership cult! I can’t tell you how many churches today are built around the narcissistic personality of the senior pastor and how many of them will fall by the wayside when such leaders inevitably fall. It’s brutal. I speak from personal experience. A significant part of my own ministry has been to go in and help clean up the mess these leaders leave behind. (Consider downloading The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast to learn about a recent example of one such leader’s fall from grace.)

So let’s assume Nimrod did lead the people to build the Tower of Babel. Let’s assume he used his power to bring order and security to their lives. Let’s assume he leveraged their common language and tribal connections to keep them together. Nimrod must have been a persuasive speaker. A charismatic leader. A man who could cast a vision. Tragically, his vision was not God’s vision. Instead of sending the people out to explore and fill the earth, he encourages them to stay together. Instead of caring and cultivating the earth so it would be fruitful, he leads them to the fertile plain of Shinar where they can settle down. Build a great city. Construct a mighty tower that would reach to the heavens. It makes perfect sense. It would be a symbol of safety and security. It would provide protection from the elements and the dangers of the world. It would give them a sense of place. A sense of connection. A sense of community. No matter how far they might wander from the city they had built, they could keep the tower in view and always find their way back home. 

Frankly this doesn’t sound all that bad until you take a step back and realize they were doing all these things without God! “And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.” (Gen. 11:5-6) This is the Garden of Eden all over again. Humanity wanting to be like God. Humanity choosing independence from God. Humanity rebelling against God’s explicit command. Thankfully, God refuses to let humanity persist in her sin. Just as He expelled Adam and Eve before they could eat of the Tree of Life and be trapped forever in their broken estate, He now confuses the languages of the people and scatters them over the face of the earth lest they become forever ensnared by their innate selfishness and narcissism.   

What about me? If I’m honest, I know I am no different than Nimrod. Given the right set of circumstances, I am confident I would fall for the same temptations. I have narcissistic tendencies. I can be as selfish and greedy and proud as the next person. My heart is an idol factory. My nature is ever inclined towards sin. My thoughts and attitudes and actions reflect the deep brokenness of my condition. I am not immune. So where have I gone astray? Where do I lead my family or my congregation astray? Where have I gone against the express will of God in my own life? What towers am I trying to build? Am I seeking to become an influencer? Build an online platform? Measure my success by the size of the church I serve? Am I operating out of a desire for safety and security? Am I seeking to build my home and my life and my community through my own effort apart from God? Or am I seeking God? Am I walking with open hands before Him? Am I following in His footsteps?  

Readings for tomorrow: None