June 7, 2006 - II Chronicles 28-29 and John 17
Leadership is very important. People follow their leaders, and almost all of us are leaders to someone. We must take the role of leaders seriously. Even though each person has the responsibility to do the right thing, each person is dramatically influenced by his or her leaders.
II Chronicles 28 and 29 give us a definite contrast of two leaders, and the effect they had on others. Ahaz was an evil leader. God brought the whole country of Judah down low, because he encouraged moral decline, and he led people to be unfaithful to God. (28:19) As a result of his leadership 120,000 soldiers died, and the regular worship of God in the Temple ceased. Then, Hezekiah was a righteous ruler. He led the people to make a commitment or a covenant with God. (29:10) He led them to restore the regular worship and to cleanse the Temple. The other leaders followed him, so the people were led to do the right thing. (29:29) I want us all to think about how we are leading those over whom we have influence. Realize that you will be held accountable to God for your leadership. Also, take an inventory of the leaders whom you follow. Are they righteous? Are they leading you closer to God or farther away? You have the choice of who you will follow, and God will hold you accountable for your own actions.
As we read John 17 there are several themes we could emphasize, but today the Lord spoke to me about the word "glory." Glory means the substance of someone's character. When we glorify someone we are showing others their importance because of who they are. In John 17 Jesus is praying that the Father would glorify Him by the Cross. Jesus desired for everyone to see that He was the Only God/Man, and He alone could die for the sins of the world. He wanted everyone to realize the substance of His character and actions. Then, He desired for the Father to be glorified, because He created the plan of redemption through the Cross. It came from His heart of love, so Jesus wanted all to know that. (v.1) Then, Jesus tells us that He has given us His glory. (v.22) We do not have our own glory, but since Christ lives in us, we have His glory. People should be able to see the substance of His character in us. They see that in our unity and in our love for each other. They see His glory whenever we act like Jesus by the power of the Spirit. That is what we should seek to do each day. We should seek to let His glory shine out through us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 30-31 and John 18:1-18.
II Chronicles 28 and 29 give us a definite contrast of two leaders, and the effect they had on others. Ahaz was an evil leader. God brought the whole country of Judah down low, because he encouraged moral decline, and he led people to be unfaithful to God. (28:19) As a result of his leadership 120,000 soldiers died, and the regular worship of God in the Temple ceased. Then, Hezekiah was a righteous ruler. He led the people to make a commitment or a covenant with God. (29:10) He led them to restore the regular worship and to cleanse the Temple. The other leaders followed him, so the people were led to do the right thing. (29:29) I want us all to think about how we are leading those over whom we have influence. Realize that you will be held accountable to God for your leadership. Also, take an inventory of the leaders whom you follow. Are they righteous? Are they leading you closer to God or farther away? You have the choice of who you will follow, and God will hold you accountable for your own actions.
As we read John 17 there are several themes we could emphasize, but today the Lord spoke to me about the word "glory." Glory means the substance of someone's character. When we glorify someone we are showing others their importance because of who they are. In John 17 Jesus is praying that the Father would glorify Him by the Cross. Jesus desired for everyone to see that He was the Only God/Man, and He alone could die for the sins of the world. He wanted everyone to realize the substance of His character and actions. Then, He desired for the Father to be glorified, because He created the plan of redemption through the Cross. It came from His heart of love, so Jesus wanted all to know that. (v.1) Then, Jesus tells us that He has given us His glory. (v.22) We do not have our own glory, but since Christ lives in us, we have His glory. People should be able to see the substance of His character in us. They see that in our unity and in our love for each other. They see His glory whenever we act like Jesus by the power of the Spirit. That is what we should seek to do each day. We should seek to let His glory shine out through us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 30-31 and John 18:1-18.