Devotional -

Gifted to Lead ( 24 March )

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Now Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet, and she was serving as a judge for the Israelites at that time. She would sit under a certain palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel would go there for her decisions. One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam from the city of Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, has given you this command: 'Take ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor. I will bring Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, to fight you at the Kishon River. He will have his chariots and soldiers, but I will give you victory over him.'" Then Barak replied, "I will go if you go with me, but if you don't go with me, I won't go either." She answered, "All right, I will go with you, but you won't get any credit for the victory, because the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman."

Judges 4:4-9

For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

1 Corinthians 4:9

All authority is from God. In a church context, leadership is a God-given appointment for certain individuals whom he has called to lead. Since God has appointed leaders for this purpose, he expects us to respect, follow, and learn from them.

For their part leaders help us to grow closer to Christ and more like him. At the same time, we are responsible for what happens in our own lives. As we learn from others, so in turn others should learn from us. In addition, we all have a responsibility to live in such a way that others may see Jesus more clearly.

It comes as a surprise to some that there are women in the Bible whom God used in positions of leadership. Even though God's choice of Deborah came at a time when there was a clear division between men and women and their respective roles, it shows his willingness to use the gifting that each individual has, regardless of their gender.

God used Deborah's wisdom to guide others. At the same time, as she obeyed God and served the people, she herself moved closer to God. She learned from her own experience of leading, and she was then stirred to worship God (Judges 5).

In (1 Corinthians 4:9) Paul declares that our faith is a spectacle to others. In everything we do there is a good opportunity to lead others and ourselves ever closer to the ways of Christ.

- 24 MARCH -