Post by Daily Devotional on Jul 17, 2005 13:21:12 GMT -5
Daily Devotional
from Called to Conquer
Sunday, July 17
Honor the Father’s Gifts
Today’s Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:7–13;
Key Verse: : Ephesians 4:11–12
He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
God wants us to honor His sovereignty and trust His ability to use ordinary flawed men and women as leaders (those are the only kind available to Him anyway). Most of us do not like the idea unless, of course, we happen to be the ones He has chosen. God’s plan works because He knows all things, and because man’s weaknesses, sins, and foolishness have never caught Him off guard.
Anointed human leaders are just that—they are very human people whom God has anointed for reasons only He knows. This means they go about their duties feeling all the same temptations and doubts that you do! God gives ordinary people His anointing to equip them for their assignment and to make up for their innate weaknesses and faults.
Church leaders should adopt a continual attitude of repentance, dependence, and gratitude. This explains why Jesus stressed servanthood so strongly when He prepared His disciples for leadership.
When God sends such leaders into a generation, He does not expect those leaders to accomplish His will when they are stuck with hundreds of lone rangers who each think he possesses a vision of equal importance to the leader’s vision. Paul made it clear that we do not choose what body part we are to be in the church; it is God who sets us in place as it pleases Him (1 Cor. 12:18).
To submit to human leaders, when we know they are flawed just like we are, demands an even greater trust and faith in God. Yet in the end it all boils down to one question: is God really God, or is He not?
Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father, even though I can see flaws and weaknesses in the leaders You put in my life, I can see Your hand and heart at work in them too. You placed a call upon my life also, and I know my own weaknesses all too well. I will honor the leaders You have given to me, and I will trust You to guide them even as I trust You to guide me each day. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.