SHIPWRECKED
DAILY WORD
1/30/23
35. “Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever.
36. Then all of your surviving family will bow before him, begging for money and food. ‘Please,’ they will say, ‘give us jobs among the priests so we will have enough to eat.’”
1 Samuel 2: 35–36 NLT
Today’s Passage concludes Chapter two of The Story of Samuel and does so in a manner demonstrating God’s Wrath in a way we cannot ignore. I mentioned in the last POST that reading these kinds of accounts frequently leaves me feeling for the ones punished.
I think that’s a natural human response. We see God leveling punishment against one who defied Him, and our first reaction is empathy or at least regret for their treatment. But that never factors in their sin. It is easy to overlook an individual’s terrible actions when they’re in the midst of paying for them. It is easy to forget the transgression that procured the consequence.
But one thing we should never forget, especially when encountering those who have no intention of Honoring God, is that He will always balance the scales. Eli and his sons scorned God through the corruption of His sacrifices and profaning the responsibilities of the priesthood. And Eli was even given a chance to quell God’s Wrath. He chose not to.
God will not ignore sin forever. A day is coming when everyone who has defied Him and gone their own way will be called to an account. Every unconfessed sin will be exposed, and the ledgers will be balanced. The time for payment will come due.
But as terrifying a prospect as that may be for those who don’t Love God, for those who’ve heard His Promises, this becomes the Hope of our Salvation! Yes, we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory; that is to be expected. But that’s not where our part in the story ends!
Because of His Supreme Love for us, God already paid the price for our sins. He did it at the cost of pain, fear, and shame, but He didn’t shy away from them. He leaned into His destiny for the sole reason of altering ours! God chose to die so that we could truly Live.
But when we read Today’s Passage, it is impossible to ignore the fury of God’s Warranted Wrath. Presenting the outcomes of sin in this manner clearly illustrates the dangers of defying God, especially in spiritual leadership positions. We cannot expect to lead God’s people astray and not pay a heavy price for their forfeiture. That is not the role of a leader.
In Leadership Positions, the responsibilities are even more stringent than for those who follow. Everyone is obliged to do what is right, but if you’re piloting the ship, everyone in it is under your protection and guidance. If you end up shipwrecked, every loss counts against your Leadership!
That is why it is so essential to know your role and stick to its strictures or face the threat of failure. And failure on that scale goes far beyond personal catastrophes; it can mean disaster for all involved. That brings us to Today’s Lesson: If you’ve been Called to Serve God, do so with distinction or face Judgment.
It is a Sacred Responsibility to Lead God’s people, and He expects those who do to take it seriously. We see in Today’s Passage what it looks like when you don’t. Like any Good Father, God does not play when it comes to His children. He prioritizes their protection, therefore, underscoring the weight of Good Leadership!
There is no more essential Duty when it comes to Leadership. It is better not to take the role than to flub it up and lose a soul! Do not take Leadership lightly because God doesn’t. You have to get it right the first time because this is life, and more often than not, there are no do-overs.
Have a Marvelous Monday And Never Take The Responsibility of Leadership For Granted, It Is The Most Important Role We May Ever Play!
#dailyword
