Post by Woody Williams on Oct 20, 2005 4:49:29 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Deuteronomy 17:14-20
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When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me," you may indeed set over you a king whom the LORD your God will choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community. Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since the LORD has said to you, "You must never return that way again." And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself. When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests. It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel.
Devotional
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God makes provision for leadership among the Israelites by allowing them to have a king. However, the king is to be chosen by God. The king is not to serve himself by adding to his wealth nor by adding to the number of wives he has. The king is to serve the people. The phrase "servant leadership" has become a focus for leadership development for our time. Leaders enable others to fulfill their purposes and strengthen the community by their mutual work and support.
Servant leadership is a mark of the Christian church. Our example is the leadership of Jesus. He offered his life to give us what we could not give ourselves - salvation. He came not to be served but to serve.
Prayer
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God, create a servant attitude in me. Amen
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When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me," you may indeed set over you a king whom the LORD your God will choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community. Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since the LORD has said to you, "You must never return that way again." And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself. When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests. It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel.
Devotional
----------
God makes provision for leadership among the Israelites by allowing them to have a king. However, the king is to be chosen by God. The king is not to serve himself by adding to his wealth nor by adding to the number of wives he has. The king is to serve the people. The phrase "servant leadership" has become a focus for leadership development for our time. Leaders enable others to fulfill their purposes and strengthen the community by their mutual work and support.
Servant leadership is a mark of the Christian church. Our example is the leadership of Jesus. He offered his life to give us what we could not give ourselves - salvation. He came not to be served but to serve.
Prayer
----------------
God, create a servant attitude in me. Amen