28

Jump Start # 1796

Posted on February 28, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1796

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.”

I don’t understand why. That will be the heart of this Jump Start. Our verse today, specifically identifies three different spiritual states of brethren and the proper response to help them. Paul lists: unruly, fainthearted and the weak. Implied is a fourth state, and that is the spiritually strong who this passage is addressed to, who will be active in helping improve these brethren. There are different responses to each state that is listed. The unruly were to be admonished. The fainthearted to be encouraged. The weak were to be helped.

 

All of this reminds us that we are not in the same spiritual place. It also reminds us that “one-size-fits-all” often doesn’t work. Mixing things up here could really make a mess. If you encouraged the unruly, they’d go off even farther in their rebellion. If you admonished the fainthearted, you’d crush and destroy them. It is important to understand the condition that these hearts were in and the proper spiritual remedy that they needed.

 

This morning our focus is upon the weak. Help the weak, Paul says. The weak Christian. Weak isn’t a good place to be in for anything. Weak coffee is pitiful. Someone with a weak back won’t be much help come moving day. Someone with a weak stomach won’t be able to clean out old stuff left in a college frig. Weak eyes, can’t see well. A weakling, gets bullied and picked on. There just isn’t much to put in the positive column for someone who is weak.

 

Weak spiritually, is not a good thing. They will attend, but it’s more out of habit, family or guilt, rather than desire. Because they are weak, they are not thinking spiritually. They make wrong choices and poor decisions. They hang around, date and marry people that they shouldn’t. They do that because they are weak. They allow other things to come before God. The weak do not read the Bible much and worse, they do not understand it. The weak are on the outside, looking in. They do not engage in hospitality with the church family. They do not do spiritual things outside the church building. They are weak. When it’s time to look for deacons and elders, their names are never mentioned. They are weak. When it’s time to look for teachers, they are never considered, because they are weak. Some will remain weak for decades. Nothing changes. All kinds of opportunities are offered to grow and get involved, but they won’t be there. They are weak. They set the path for their children to follow. Too often, they will even be weaker and many will have no time or room for the Lord what so ever.

 

Here is what I don’t understand.

 

Why don’t they see that they are weak? They can look at others. They can see others excelling spiritually. They see others teaching, being appointed as deacons or shepherds and yet no one ever thinks about them. Do they see that? Does it bother them? They know others are coming back to worship on Sunday nights. They aren’t. Do they see that they are weak? Are they happy being weak?

 

Why don’t they do something about their weakness? Why don’t they come to Bible classes? The weak usually only shows up to worship once a week. They have done their duty, as they see it. They are busy with other things. Things, they feel, that are more important that their spiritual life. They hear and see all the great events that a congregation will put on, which are opportunities to learn, connect and grow. Yet, the weak won’t be there. Why? Do they like being weak? Do they like having a faith that really doesn’t do anything for them? Because they are weak, they struggle with sin often, worry and fear dominates them, and they really do not understand the difference between the Lord’s church and the denomination down the road. Worse, they really do not care to know the difference. One is just as good as the other. The weak couldn’t answer the simplest questions about faith. They don’t know. They don’t care that they don’t know.

 

Why don’t they see that life would be so much better if they were strong? So many of the things that they struggle with would be settled if they were strong spiritually. They would have confidence, assurance and hope if they were stronger. Their marriages would be better if they were stronger. Their outlook would be brighter if they were stronger. Yet, here they remain, weak.

 

Of the three conditions listed in this passage, unruly, fainthearted, and weak, it’s the weak that I don’t understand. It’s the easiest to improve. Every congregation has some who are weak, including the Thessalonians. We can point the fingers to the elders, the preaching, the classes, but at the end of the day, it falls upon weak hearts who are content to remain weak. Of the three conditions listed, unruly, fainthearted and weak, it is the weak that is the most miserable. Too much of the world is in them to be a strong Christian and just enough faith and guilt in them to keep them from leaving all together to return to the world. So there they remain, in no man’s land. Miserable at church and feeling guilty with the world. It’s time to get some help.

 

Why be weak when you don’t have to? Why be weak when there is a better way? Why be weak when it’s doing you no good? Why be weak when it’s most likely killing your family spiritually? Why be weak? What’s even worse, is when you pool a whole bunch of weak together and you have a weak church. I have seen such. Just close the doors and sell the property. Get on board with the Lord. Preach the word. Get serious. Pray deep prayers. Pump some encouragement into that stale building. Become alive or quit pretending.

 

I simply do not understand weak.

 

Roger

 

27

Jump Start # 1795

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1795

Romans 16:7 “Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who were outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

 

Romans 16 is a great chapter. It is loaded with thank you greetings and names which are hard to pronounce. The stories behind these names are mostly forgotten to history but remembered by Heaven. It was these names that allowed Paul to be Paul.

 

Our verse today is just a sampling of what we find in Romans 16. Two names and four statements that are very impressive.

 

First, Andronicus and Junias were related to Paul. They are identified as his kinsmen. Family. Blood. But more than that, brethren. It makes a family richer and deeper when they not only share the same name, and same history, but the same love for the Lord.

 

Second, they became Christians before Paul. One wonders if Paul would have persecuted these two had he caught up with them. Before he was a Christian, Paul was bent on wiping the name of Christ off the planet. He was arresting men and women and forcing them to renounce their faith or face punishment. Would he have done that to his own kinsmen? I’d expect the answer would be yes. That was Paul’s side of things. What about these two kinsmen? How difficult it would be when someone in the family is not a believer and against what you are doing. Many families have that. There is the atheistic cousin who teaches in the local college. There is the loud mouth uncle who loves to brag about all the wrong things in religion. There is the drunk father. There is the verbally abusive mother. There is the gay family member. Paul’s kinsmen were in Christ before Paul. While these two, Andronicus and Junias, were following Christ, Paul was following Christians to catch them. Sometimes our very families can be an embarrassment to us.

 

Third, they were “fellow-prisoners” of Paul. They had been in prison, not for crimes but because of their faith. They must have been in prison with Paul. He calls them, “my fellow” prisoners. They had been persecuted. We wonder if Paul sang hymns with them in prison as he did in Philippi. Was Paul a source of encouragement, having been through so many trials himself? Together, in prison.

 

Fourth, they were “outstanding among the apostles.” I love that expression and wish we knew more about that. Just what did they do. It sounds as if it wasn’t just for Paul, but the “apostles.” Outstanding. We understand that in sports—those folks get the MVP. Outstanding in the music field gets the Grammy. In films, it’s the Oscar. But unlike those American awards, no one votes for this. There is no banquet or ceremony. There is no golden statue presented to them. They were being praised among brethren and especially to Heaven. God recognized the good that these men were doing. Outstanding among the apostles. Yet, in Scriptures, they are not mentioned much.

 

All of these teaches us a few lessons.

 

First, all of us have people of faith surrounding us that have helped us. It is so easy to always notice the wrong. We notice who is not attending much. We notice those who mess up. We notice areas needing improvement. How often do we recognize those who are “outstanding” among us. They go out of their way. They may not make much noise, say much, but they do what they can do. They help worship run smoothly. They help take care of the building. They give rides to those who need them. They are there to help others. They do all the behind the scene stuff that allows a church to send out sermons, videos and live stream. Often these folks do not carry the title deacon, elder or preacher. In fact, most would shy away from such things. They are just happy to do what they can do.

 

Second, it is important to recognize those who are outstanding among us. Don’t throw them a party, because that would embarrass them. But thank them. Give them a shout out from the pulpit. Take them out to lunch. Buy them a gift. Let them know that you appreciate their dedication and hard work. I remember reading about what Broncos quarterback John Elway did one year for his offensive line. After the season, he bought them all every expensive boots as his way of thanking them for doing their job. He didn’t have to do that, but he did. It was his way of honoring those who were outstanding among him.

 

Once in a while, hard workers get discouraged. They may feel that no one notices what they are doing. That discouragement can lead them to stop what they are doing. You don’t want that to happen, so a heart felt thank you is important.

 

Third, everyone wants to be the apostle but it is important also to be the ones who were outstanding among them. Not everyone can be an elder, but you can be outstanding among them. Not everyone can preach, but you can be outstanding among them. Find what you can do and do it well. To this day, few would recognize the name Andronicus from the Bible. Everybody knows Paul. Don’t let that stop you from doing what you can do. Don’t try to lower Paul so that you can put yourself in the limelight. Had it not been Paul telling us about these two men, we would have never know this. We don’t find them telling their own story. You don’t read them preaching how great they were among the apostles. You won’t find them tooting their own horns. They helped and the glory goes to God.

 

Fourth, someday the details of what we do will be forgotten as well. God will know and that’s what matters. Every generation has just a handful that are remembered. That’s true spiritually. In a study of Restoration history, a few names are remembered, but most are not. Acts 13, tells us that David served the purpose of God in his generation. That’s what we do. All the sermons, articles and things we preachers do, will be lost in a short time. We are planting for this season. We are helping this generation. When God is through with us here, we will go home and others will do what they can. Don’t worry about that. Don’t try to make a name for yourself. Don’t aim to be Mr. Bigshot. You’ll fail. Just do your work. Just help others. Let God get the glory.

 

Outstanding among the apostles… I look forward to meeting Andronicus in Heaven. I doubt I’d even ask him what was so outstanding. It won’t matter. I think I would just like to stand beside him for a while.

 

Roger

 

24

Jump Start # 1794

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1794

Luke 15:5 “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

We have been doing a mini series about leaders. Leaders in the home are parents and leaders in the church are shepherds. Our times like the word “leaders.” There are many leadership books found in bookstores. There is a whole segment of publications, seminars and blogs about “church leaders.” These things show everything from how to grow a church, manage problems, and keep everyone connected. There are strong business models found in the church leadership programs. What works well in big business often does not work well in the church.

 

Our verse today reminds us of a special aspect of shepherding that is often overlooked by the experts of leadership. This passage is part of a three series of parables about lost being found. A lost sheep was found. A lost coin was found. A lost son was found. The lost was valuable. There was intense search taking place. When the lost was recovered, there was much joy and happiness.

 

In this first parable, about the lost sheep, Jesus states, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost…” Jesus states this thought as if it were a common practice and understanding. “What man among you…does not” The thought seems to be, ‘this is something that we all do.’ But that very principle has always struck me as being out of character for shepherds. Being a city guy, and not knowing much about sheep, but just thinking practically, it seems that if the shepherd left the 99 in the open pasture to chase after the one lost sheep, when he returned there might be 99 who are now missing. Since they were in “open pasture,” as the text states, the shepherd might have to count his losses. One gone, but 99 still safe. That’s how I would think things through. One of the underling principles is that each sheep is important to the shepherd, who is God. God doesn’t count His losses. He is not ready to give up on any. He wants all to be saved.

 

When the lost sheep was found, as our verse tells us, the shepherd lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. The idea is that the sheep is wrapped around the shepherd’s neck. That would do two things. First, it would allow the shepherd to travel faster to return to the flock. Like, holding a child in your arms, one can move faster that way. Secondly, the warmth of the shepherd’s neck, was a sign of comfort, assurance and love. The shepherd didn’t beat the sheep. He didn’t drive it back to the flock. He carried it. This sheep must have been young. I doubt a shepherd could lift a full grown sheep and walk with it wrapped around his neck. With a lamb wrapped around your neck, you are going to smell like that lamb. That’s part of shepherding. Carrying the sheep that way also built trust and hopefully a bond so that the sheep wouldn’t wander off again.

 

Leading God’s people carries this very idea. It’s not standing on the hillside barking orders as the troops head off to battle. It’s picking the sheep up. It’s carrying them back to where they belong. It’s putting them around your shoulders. Tenderness. Gentleness. Compassion. Love. Caring. Those are all expressions that come from carrying sheep around your shoulders. A trust level was developed. The sheep knew that the shepherd cared. I don’t see in this story the fact that the shepherd “had to teach the sheep a lesson.” I don’t see the shepherd using guilt, shame or fear to get the sheep back. I don’t see threats being used. The sheep was found. It was carefully picked up and carried back to the flock wrapped around the shepherd’s neck. The shepherd was rejoicing. He was happy. He was not disgusted that it took extra time to go looking for this lost sheep. He didn’t complain about how all of this inconvenienced him. He didn’t explode saying that there wasn’t time for this nonsense. It wasn’t about the shepherd. It was about finding the lost sheep and returning him to where he belonged.

 

God’s shepherds today would do well to give this some thought. It’s easier to drive than it is to lead. It is easier to shout, stir up dust, and use ropes to get the cattle going. However, we are not on a cattle drive. We are to be shepherding sheep. Individual care. Tenderness. Compassion. These are what God’s leaders need. Sheep have gotten too close to the world, and they need to be returned. Sheep have gotten confused and now they are not sure. Sheep have not been paying attention to their souls and now they are weak.

 

Carrying sheep around your neck—not everyone would do that. Giving lectures is easier. Pointing fingers is easier. Laying on the guilt is easier. Building bonds of trust through love and concern is hard. This is the difference that will make a difference. We don’t literally put members around our shoulders. That would be a back breaker for most of us. What we do is hug. We hold the hand. We talk softly. We listen. We walk them through some steps. We follow up. We inquire. We pray with them and for them. We keep a close eye on them. We invite them to dinner. We pour hours and hours into their lives. We let them see goodness. We let them experience love. We rejoice with them. We worship with them. We are there for them. That’s shepherding, God’s style. There are no fast tracks to this. It’s messy. After carrying sheep, the shepherd smells like sheep. He doesn’t mind.

 

The boardroom approach to leading God’s people fails. It lacks that touch and tenderness. Telling others what to do seems cold and distant. The shepherd must leave his place and go. He must find. He must place the lost sheep around his neck. He must rejoice as he returns. I expect the shepherd walking back to the flock, with the sheep around his neck, talked to that sheep. His voice, recognized by the sheep, gave assurance. He talked kindly. He talked often. Many of us have talked to our pets. Those that talk in kindness have seen the animals respond with a wag of the tail or a purr. The pets want to be around the person that is kind and gives attention to them. I expect this lost sheep, from our parable, hung pretty close to the shepherd’s heels. He probably paid closer attention to the voice of the shepherd. His wandering days may have ended by the way the shepherd handled him and was kind to him.

 

What a great opportunity it is to lead God’s people. Do this with faith, courage and love. Lead, as the Lord has led us. Leading God’s people isn’t about power or who “controls” the church. Those who think that way, ought never to be in that position. They will run the people off, rather than carry them back.

 

The shepherd understands that it was the Lord who has carried us back to where we belong. Who can ever forget that.

 

Roger

 

23

Jump Start # 1793

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1793

Joshua 24:15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Yesterday, we wrote about leadership not being a democracy, especially in the home and in the church. Another crucial aspect of leading is being decisive. The lack of knowing what to do or unwilling to take a stand will put leaders in the position of polling the congregation to see what they want to do. The danger in that is most times the results are divided. Not everyone agrees. Then what are the leaders to do? Whatever they decide, some will be unhappy.

 

Our verse today shows Joshua made up his mind. He knew where he stood. Agree or disagree with him, he was taking a stance. This is essential in both the home and in the church. Too often parents will say it’s time for bed and the kids cry, fuss and complain. They beg to stay up just a little bit longer. Let us just finish the show. Weary parents, wanting to avoid a nuclear war with the kids, will let them stay up. On the surface, no big deal. But if not careful, this will happen the next time, and the time after that. The kids soon learn to pitch a fit every time they are told to do something that they don’t like. If you don’t believe that, go to Walmart on Saturday morning. It’s a real circus with whinny kids and frustrated parents and no leadership.

 

Whinny kids are not much different from whinny church members. They complain to their favorite elder and pressure and pressure him until he goes against what was already decided. Instead of drawing a line in the sand and agreeing with the direction that has been determined, the weary and frustrated elder has second thoughts. He wants to go back and reverse what was already decided. The real reason is not his conscience or some Biblical principle that he forgot about. Most times, there is a whinny member who has to have his way and the elder lacks the leadership ability to stand up for what was decided.

 

Leaders must be decisive. They must take into an account what is best for the group, whether it’s the family at home, or the church family at the building. They look at what the group needs. They have a heart that cares for them. But in the end, they must take the lead and lead.

 

The image God gives us of leading His people is that of a shepherd. The shepherd walks before the sheep and they follow him. He knows where he is going. He has thought out where they need to pasture and what is the best way to get there. A leader who doesn’t know where he is going, will be turning around often. Confusion will fill the ranks and soon people will no longer trust his judgment. “He doesn’t know what he is doing,” ought never to be said of any leader.

 

The literal shepherd in ancient Israel, had to factor in the little lambs who couldn’t travel very far. He had to think about the old lambs who got weary often. He had to think about the pregnant ones and the strain that traveling would have on them. He would think about the flock. He would think about the safest route and how often they needed to stop. For the shepherd himself, he might easily be able to walk a dozen miles that day. But some of the sheep couldn’t keep up at that pace. This is what the shepherd has to consider.

 

Spiritually, not everyone in the flock, the church, is at the same place that the shepherd is in faith and spiritual knowledge. He has to consider that. What he might be able to do, others can’t. There are some who could sit for hours upon hours and listen to deep, detailed textual studies. They would be thrilled. Others, would be so lost, confused and weary that they might think about dropping out. So, what the flock needs is often not the same thing as what the shepherd needs.

 

Decisive—that’s hard to do. Undecided seems to be the largest segment in every election. They don’t know. They haven’t made up their minds. The most asked question every Sunday is, “Where do you want to go to eat?” It is usually answered with, “I don’t care,” or, “I don’t know.” Make a decision.

 

The decisions, both at home and in the church must be made with the word of God in mind. That’s first. What does God want us to do. That settles many questions right there.

 

What works in some homes and in some congregations may not work for yours. Wise leaders has to know the heart of his people and what is best for them.

 

Being decisive means there may be some who do not agree with you, nor like your decisions. This is especially true in the home with kids. They always have a different suggestion than what the parents decide. The parents often have to be the bad guys. The same is true with the shepherds in the church. Leaders can’t cave-in to the threats that come their way. Some will threaten to leave. Some will threaten to undermine what has been decided. That can’t change what has been decided. In the home, some strong action, in the form of discipline may be necessary. In the church, the word is rebuke, but the outcome is the same. God has never taken to rebellion against His leaders. Ancient Israel tried a mutiny against Moses. It didn’t go well for them. The Corinthians tried to undermine Paul’s authority. It didn’t go well with them. Alexander, the coppersmith, harmed Paul. It didn’t end well for him. Taking cheap shots at the leaders is wrong. Taking negatively behind their backs is wrong. It breeds division and anarchy.

 

Being decisive is one reason why some would not make good leaders in the church. They can’t decide. Or, if they decide, they can be talked out of their decision. Leaders who cannot decide will soon be following the church. Instead of shepherds leading the flock, the flock leads the shepherds. What happens is that the shepherds become “yes men” to the church. The church decides. The church sets forth the path that they will follow and the leaders simply give their ok. This is not God’s arrangement. Because of experience, wisdom, faith and knowledge, the shepherds are in the position to lead. They need a fire in their belly and a backbone to stay the course that they have decided.

 

History has shown churches that followed a progressive spirit that took them away from God’s pattern, often times because the leaders stood back and allowed it to happen. “It’s what they want,” doesn’t cut it. Try that at home. The kids will be eating cake and drinking pop for breakfast. “It’s what they want.” I’m sure it is. What they want and what they need are not the same. It’s time for parents to parent and shepherds to shepherd.

 

Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” He knew. A line was drawn in the sand. He couldn’t be talked out of that decision nor pressured to back away from that position. He was decisive.

 

Are you?

 

Roger

 

22

Jump Start # 1792

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1792

Exodus 32:25 “Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control-for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies”

 

Exodus 32 is a chapter of great triumphs and terrible defeats. Moses is up on the mountain with God. The Lord engraves the stone tablets, the Ten Commandments. What an incredible moment that is. The commands are carved in stone, not written on paper. They were intended to be lasting. They were intended to stand throughout the generations. God gave Moses those stone tablets. I don’t know if Moses did this, but I think I would have taken my finger and traced the words that were written by the finger of God. Amazing!

 

As Moses and Joshua come down from the mountain, a noise arises from the camp of Israel. They are partying. While Moses was getting the law of God, Israel was busy breaking the law. The people grew impatient waiting for Moses’ return. The next in command was Aaron, the high priest. The people pressured Aaron to make a golden calf, an idol, a visible god, that they could worship. Immediately, several of the first commands were broken. Aaron took charge in making this idol. God was angry. Moses was angry. God was ready to wipe the people out. Moses threw the tablets down and they shattered. The golden calf was destroyed. The nation was punished. Many died that night. It was a terrible end to a wonderful event for Moses.

 

Great lessons come from this story. One of the first lessons we see is the lack of leadership by Aaron. He allowed the nation to lead him. He justified making the calf on the fact that the people wanted it. Instead of leading the nation in a prayer, reminding them to hang in there and be patient, he caved in to their demands.

 

The nation of Israel was not a democracy. There was no voting to be done. There were no polls to reflect how the nation felt. God ruled. End of discussion. That same principle needs to understood today in the home and in the church. These are not democracies either. When we listen to the voice of others over the word of God, then trouble will happen.

 

Modern churches today vote. They vote on policy and doctrine. Look at the history of various churches and you see major doctrinal swings and shifts that follow the feelings of society. A couple of generations ago, no churches had women preachers. Wasn’t allowed. Society changed and so did the churches. Generations ago, most churches were pretty strict about divorce. Society changed and so did their rules. Homosexuality became acceptable in society and the modern church followed. Now, the flavor of the month is transgender. Society is changing it’s thinking about who is a woman and who is a man. The old expression, “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it must be a duck,” doesn’t fit anymore with modern thinkers. It may walk like a man, talk like a man and even shave like a man, but it could be a woman. Very confusing. In a moment, the modern churches will be rethinking the transgender issue. As society welcomes the latest perversion, modern churches will adjust their teachings, doctrines, policies and signs on the bathroom doors. The modern church dances to the beat of society. They are doing what Aaron did. The people want a golden calf, so we will provide one. We want the people to be happy. The customer, we have been told, is always right. That might be true in business, but it’s a disaster in the church and at home.

 

Democracy does not belong in the home, either. The home, as designed by God, is to be run by dad and mom. They have the experience and the authority given to them by God. In many homes, there are more kids than parents. If the home were run by popular vote, the parents are outvoted every time. Having their own way, the kids would stay up as late as they want, eat what they want, go to school when they want and grow up to be spoiled, selfish, and ruined. The home needs direction, rule and discipline. It is in the home where respect is learned and accountability is practiced. Letting the kids do what they want is dumb psychology, weak parenting and an invitation for trouble down the road. I had to go to school. There was no debate nor any discussion. I had to go to church services. End of discussion. I had to be home at certain time that my parents decided. I had to fill the car up with gas when I borrowed the car. I had to clean my room. I had to watch what I said. I had to eat supper with the whole family. I was taken to visit grandparents. We went to the funeral home. What did all of that get me? I graduated. I got good jobs. I became responsible. I got married and stayed married. I had a family. I have people that trust me and call me friend. What did it do? It shaped me into a responsible adult that now follows Christ.

 

Aaron blew it as a leader. I’m sure the people loved him. If popularity is what you want, then you let the people do what they want. They will love you and you will be their favorite. They will sing your praises. They will honor you. They will pat you on the back. But as a leader, you have failed to lead. You allowed the people to go where they want. In Aaron’s situation, the people went straight to sin. God was angry. God was ready to wipe all of them out.

 

The leader must know where the people need to go. The shepherd of Psalms 23, understood that it was green pastures and quiet waters that the sheep needed. He had to know where those places were. He had to lead the flock there. The flock may not have wanted to travel. Maybe they wanted to just stay where they were. The shepherd knew better. He led. He didn’t drive. He didn’t beat. But he took the sheep to where they needed to be.

 

In leading, the elder in the church or, the parent, may not always be the good guy. He may have to make some unpopular calls. He may lead them where they need to be, not where they want to be. The leader has to know when to say, “no.” He does that, not to be mean or restrictive, but because he knows what is best for the group he is leading. His goal is their wellbeing. He wants them strong, healthy and growing.

 

Democracy works great in politics, but it’s a terrible mode to follow in the home and in the church. We need to allow God to be the one in charge. We need to do what God says. “I don’t feel like going to church,” isn’t a reason to stay home. There are many things in life that a person doesn’t “feel like” doing, but it has to be done. Maybe an attitude adjustment, seeing the good in things, opening your eyes, will change that spirit and attitude.

 

Aaron let the people have what they wanted. They got just that. Of those people, only Joshua and Caleb entered the promise land. God knows what is best. Trust him.

 

Roger