good leadership – Be Still…

Acts 6:1-15 – People Will Be People

What we see in this reading is people acting in ways you might expect. If feeling attacked, one might lash out, placing blame on others. If threatened or misinformed, one might be prone to acting out of revenge or seeking control. Perhaps even lying to get their way becomes an option.

In any event, we see how human nature can wreak havoc on a growing ministry. We also see how the leadership handled grumbling in a way that made sense for a growing membership of believers. You’ve probably seen it in your own ministry groups. Leaders are often over-utilized to handle more than they should. Continue reading “Acts 6:1-15 – People Will Be People”

2 Chronicles 23:1-11 – Priestly Action

Read 2 Chronicles 23:1-11

Wasn’t the temple the perfect place for such an elite group of believers to meet for a planning session? The reigning Queen would never know since she would rarely, if ever, frequent that Holy place. You have to applaud the brave priest, Jehoiada for arranging this gathering. He was also likely instrumental in the plot to keep infant Joash alive. It’s good to remember Joash was his nephew, too.

We can learn a lot from this priest’s actions. Jehoiada bravely chose to make a move to hide the rightful king, the king who would further protect God’s promise to David about their forever kingdom. A high priority indeed for a good priest to be aware of. Do we make keeping God’s commands or trusting his promises our top priority?

Nehemiah 5:1-13 – Helping the Oppressed

Read Nehemiah 5:1-13

I wondered how the people were surviving financially in the new land. If all their time was spent on the construction project, when did they earn a living? When did they rebuild their own homes? This passage reveals some of the inequality going on in the new land.

Apparently, Nehemiah was not aware of the financial hardships some were facing. Now that he was, he was angry that some of their own people were taking advantage. It breaks my heart that children being be sold into slavery. That was a common practice in those days, too. Today, human trafficking is at an all time high because of greedy people with no regard for human life.