Not Exalted over Other Members

The Spirit Comes
Woven together in Love

Gifts of the Spirit

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 The Message

^14-17 When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you and take it over and settle down, and then say, “I’m going to get me a king, a king like all the nations around me,” make sure you get yourself a king whom God, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen; don’t take a foreigner—only a kinsman. And make sure he doesn’t build up a war machine, amassing military horses and chariots. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because God told you, “You’ll never go back there again!” And make sure he doesn’t build up a harem, collecting wives who will divert him from the straight and narrow. And make sure he doesn’t pile up a lot of silver and gold.

^18-20 This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons.

For ReflectionIn the politics of life, leaders emerge.  I suppose in any group, it is natural that someone is given authority.  Sometimes that authority to lead is based upon knowledge, sometimes it is based upon skills.  Sometimes the authority is based on such insignificant things as how one looks.  Sometimes the authority is taken by coercion and force.

But, in all cases the authority and power to lead is given by those who are lead and if those who are lead are fed up, that power can be taken back from those in charge.

The special social and political position of a leader often corrupts the leader.  The power goes to his or her head.  The leader is surrounded by people who will not communicate the truth well either because of the leader's own choosing or by a person's desire to be favored.

So God's advice is well placed.  Whether the leader is of a small group or a nation, or of a political unit or a church, God calls us to choose our leadership wisely.  God also calls those who lead to be careful to avoid the corrupting influences of his or her position; to keep clearly focused on serving God and God's people, protecting justice, showing compassion and fostering peace.


Pray

for the leaders of our church.  Pray that they grow in knowledge of God's truth.  Pray that they will lead in love and a passion for justice and peace.  Pray that the leaders of the world will find compassion and work for justice and peace.  Pray for the people of the world who suffer under selfish and tyrannical leaders.  Pray that they will find peace, justice and compassion in a loveless world.