As I was thinking of how to pray for leaders in the church. I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that just because we are serving Him in the church, it doesn't mean we are or can be immune from sin or temptations. Just look at the countless numbers of leaders, preachers, pastors present in history and now, some have fell and were not immortals. This thought came as a reminder to myself to that in every aspects of my life, I need to walk with the Lord, love Him and live for Him.
Yesterday's sermon topic in church was on the "Fear of the Lord" and as I read it, it defined for me what "Fear of the Lord is..." Prov 8:13
- it is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way and the perverted mouth... -
As leaders we need to fear God and to walk away from evil. It's not good enough just to know what we must do... I must constantly let God check my heart so that I will not allow pride and arrogance to grow like weeds... it's so easy to be filled with pride and not know it because sometimes I think too well of myself more than I ought to be. When the things I do always seemed right and what others are doing usually seemed not so right... if this is the prevalent thought in me, I must ask God to reform me.
The core problem of pride is when I choose to live for myself i.e. when I do not put God's will and God's agenda first. Sometimes it can get all confusing (when is it God's will or when am I living for myself) but as I pray, God will be able to point that out to me distinctively. When I come before God undone and unarmed in every way, I let Him in and let Him have his way. So what if I am a leader, I can still make mistakes because I am still mortal wrapped in flesh and capable of dishonouring God.
Hence, I am reminded that as long as I am a leader, my role is to guide, more than to lord over. The picture of the Shepherd comes in.
Yesterday's sermon topic in church was on the "Fear of the Lord" and as I read it, it defined for me what "Fear of the Lord is..." Prov 8:13
- it is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way and the perverted mouth... -
As leaders we need to fear God and to walk away from evil. It's not good enough just to know what we must do... I must constantly let God check my heart so that I will not allow pride and arrogance to grow like weeds... it's so easy to be filled with pride and not know it because sometimes I think too well of myself more than I ought to be. When the things I do always seemed right and what others are doing usually seemed not so right... if this is the prevalent thought in me, I must ask God to reform me.
The core problem of pride is when I choose to live for myself i.e. when I do not put God's will and God's agenda first. Sometimes it can get all confusing (when is it God's will or when am I living for myself) but as I pray, God will be able to point that out to me distinctively. When I come before God undone and unarmed in every way, I let Him in and let Him have his way. So what if I am a leader, I can still make mistakes because I am still mortal wrapped in flesh and capable of dishonouring God.
Hence, I am reminded that as long as I am a leader, my role is to guide, more than to lord over. The picture of the Shepherd comes in.
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