For whatever reason, many of these passages spoke to me of leadership:
Numbers 15 - What impressed me about this chapter is right after the people have been punished for their lack of faith - not going into the promised land - God gives them instructions about sacrifices they are to offer when they get there. His mercy is amazing.
Number 16 - In any church or any organization, you can bet there is some one who thinks they should be in charge. I’ve had to deal with folks like that. Sometimes the hardest piece of God’s will is to accept you will not be number 1. I can be like that myself. And if you do not accept this reality about yourself, you will damage you, your family and and your future. It certainly did for Korah.
Numbers 17 - God always has a way of validating his chosen leaders.
Numbers 18- Priests and preachers are not the same, but every minister needs to read this chapter and think about how it applies to their lives. God has given you responsibilities. Be respectful of what He has given you. He also provides for you- you get to share in His offering, and from the choicest part. BUT remember you are to give as well (v. 26).
Numbers 20 - this chapter scares me - because Moses had done so well - but he and Aaron mess up and they pay a big price. Why? The margin of error is smaller for leaders. Simple as that.
Psalm 54 and 55 - what to pray when you are under attack - and remember that attacks often can come from those closest to you. I remember years ago hearing Rick White of the People’s Church telling about a close friend leaving the church. I vowed it wouldn’t happen to me. Guess what? It did.
Matthew 23:13- 39 - a leadership check list:
1. Are you the barrier between people and God’s best?
2. Do you convert people to the right things - to religion or relationship?
3. Are you right about all the wrong things?
4. Is your obession with the details getting in the way of the most important things?
5. Are you expressing what is really inside or just trying to fake your way through?
6. Have you cleaned up your inner world?
7. Are you playing that most useless of leadership games - “If I had faced that choices, I’d have done it different?”
8. What kind of legacy are you leaving?
Romans 5:12-21 - Paul’s elegant argument - Sin came by one man - Adam - and contanimated all. Salvation comes by one man - Jesus - and saves all who will take the gift.
Romans 6:1-14 - If you are in Christ, don’t let sin have dominance in your life!