Judges 17:6 NKJV
[6] In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Good Morning!
When people are left up to their own devices, they will always fail. The Old Testament shows us over and over that when the Israelites stopped following The Lord and did things that they thought were right in their own eyes, as in worshiping idols and false gods, they always failed and eventually came back to Jehovah, the One True God.
The primary reason for their “doing right in their own eyes” was lack of leadership. The kings were said to have “done evil in the sight of the Lord.” When people either have no leader or a bad leader, then failure is eminent. When Israel had good leaders that “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,” the land was blessed and people followed by giving praise to the Lord.
Judges 5:2 NLT
[2] “Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the LORD!
In today’s world of instant access to a world of information, we still lack good leadership. Don’t get me wrong, we definitely have some good leaders, but the vast majority of people are following people that they look up to as role models that are celebrities of some sort (the Kardashians, Hollywood stars, sports players, etc). When a society follows the example of people that do not hold God’s values, it too will fail. We live in a country that is wonderfully blessed and founded on Christian principles, yet so many “leaders” of this country do not put God first and are more about their own self-interests. They have forgotten about “the fear of the LORD” and being humble before Him.
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV
[10] “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
James 4:10 NLT
[10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
So what to do?
First, everyone needs to be under a Godly leader that will weekly fill us with God’s word and in the fellowship of a church. God calls us to be in fellowship with other Christians. This strengthens us spiritually more than you will ever know. God doesn’t want any “Lone Rangers,” He wants us to be in fellowship with one another to support and strengthen each other.
Acts 2:42 NLT
[42] All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT
[12] A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Second, be a leader! God wants us all to lead in His mission. He chose us to “Go and bear fruit.” So we are not to wait around for someone else to lead, but to rise up ourselves and lead under God’s direction as a servant leader. God will give us the strength, courage and wisdom we need at the given time. It is just up to us to say yes to His will and He will lead us and guide us into His perfect will.
John 15:16 NKJV
[16] You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Luke 22:26 NLT
[26] But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
Psalm 84:5 NKJV
[5] Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
Third, Pray!
We need to pray for the leaders of this country to be humbled before God and be true leaders for Him. We have the confidence that in the end, God’s plans will succeed and are truly eminent and those with self interests will fail. But for today, we need to pray for our leaders to have wisdom to make decisions of Biblical character for the good of God’s people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
[14] if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Psalm 94:19-23 TLB
[19] Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer. [20] Will you permit a corrupt government to rule under your protection-a government permitting wrong to defeat right? [21-22] Do you approve of those who condemn the innocent to death? No! The Lord my God is my fortress-the mighty Rock where I can hide. [23] God has made the sins of evil men to boomerang upon them! He will destroy them by their own plans. Jehovah our God will cut them off.
I like the way that Solomon sums up his conclusion about life…
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV
[13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. [14] For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad