"Anointed Failure" April 25 Readings: 1 Samuel 9-10, Luke 16, Psalm 51:8–14, Proverbs 11:21-22
Reading the Bible in 2023
Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life!
NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional!
Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 9-10, Luke 16, Psalm 51:8–14, Proverbs 11:21-22
Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version
Daily Devotional: Anointed Failure
I remember eavesdropping on a conversation between my dad and another pastor in which they were discussing how churches find pastors. Among Baptists, the church chooses its own leader, forms a search committee, fields resumes, examines recommendations, and finally brings a candidate to the church. In the other pastor's denomination, the district superintendent (whatever his official title was) would select pastors and assign them to churches. My dad asserted that our system had to be the worst possible. Our friend disagreed. His denomination's system was clearly worse.
Selecting leaders for God's people has always been tricky.
1 Samuel 9-12 (today's reading and tomorrow's) tells the story of the selection of Saul as the first king of Israel. He was everything the world wants in a leader - impressive, charismatic, and appealing. The nation that made him king would be blessed. Tall, handsome, energetic, and enthusiastic; this new king had the people of Israel excited.
Of course, it didn't work out that way. Saul was not careful in obedience to God and eventually, God set him aside. Samuel anointed a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem to succeed him. David had few of the physical characteristics or innate talents of Saul, but he was the one whose house was established by covenant as an eternal line.
What was the difference between Saul and David? By human metrics, Saul was the better candidate. There are few pulpit committees that would not have chosen him over David. But in God's eyes, David was the better man. Why? Because David was a man of obedience, a man after God's heart. Saul was self-confident, willful, and often not obedient.
God doesn't need our creativity or our talents. To a God who can create a universe simply by speaking, our creativity is not so impressive. He is an awesome God and our own arrogant sense of self-importance fades in the bright light of God's glory. The sacrifice that pleases God is a sincere heart, a devoted life, a body yielded to his service, a pure and undiluted passion for him.
I wish I knew how to quantify that principle for pastoral search committees. I can't. But the principle is clear in Scripture. The greatest quality of a leader, or any believer for that matter, is simply obedience and a willingness to do whatever God has said.
Selecting leaders for God's people has always been tricky.
1 Samuel 9-12 (today's reading and tomorrow's) tells the story of the selection of Saul as the first king of Israel. He was everything the world wants in a leader - impressive, charismatic, and appealing. The nation that made him king would be blessed. Tall, handsome, energetic, and enthusiastic; this new king had the people of Israel excited.
Of course, it didn't work out that way. Saul was not careful in obedience to God and eventually, God set him aside. Samuel anointed a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem to succeed him. David had few of the physical characteristics or innate talents of Saul, but he was the one whose house was established by covenant as an eternal line.
What was the difference between Saul and David? By human metrics, Saul was the better candidate. There are few pulpit committees that would not have chosen him over David. But in God's eyes, David was the better man. Why? Because David was a man of obedience, a man after God's heart. Saul was self-confident, willful, and often not obedient.
God doesn't need our creativity or our talents. To a God who can create a universe simply by speaking, our creativity is not so impressive. He is an awesome God and our own arrogant sense of self-importance fades in the bright light of God's glory. The sacrifice that pleases God is a sincere heart, a devoted life, a body yielded to his service, a pure and undiluted passion for him.
I wish I knew how to quantify that principle for pastoral search committees. I can't. But the principle is clear in Scripture. The greatest quality of a leader, or any believer for that matter, is simply obedience and a willingness to do whatever God has said.
Father, I am reminded that it is not about my talents, abilities or efforts, but about obedience to you. May I be more like King David than King Saul - a man whose greatest quality is obedience.
Consider God's Word:
Did one of these passages speak strongly to you today? Which one?
Is there sin in your life that needs to be confessed and dealt with that was revealed in one of these passages?
Is there a struggle in your life that one of these passages spoke to?
Are you more concerned with external things or with your character and godliness?
Comments
Post a Comment