Lead With Justice And Tenderness
“The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after rain.” ~ From the last words of King David
Today’s addition to the Jesse Tree is the six-pointed Star of David, reminding us of the great King. David was chosen by God because he was pure of heart. The man and his rule is a reminder to us all that, because God calls us, we must do our part to remain faithful. David was chosen because he was pure of heart; but, in his later years, his power and his passion caused him to fall.
If we intend to honor God’s call, we must do all that we can to remain as holy as possible. We must be a people of peace, love, and justice. We must be a people who put others before ourselves. We must honor our God in word and deed.
Most of us are called to rule over others in some way, shape, or form. It might be as parents, a teacher, an employer, or some other profession. We have some sway over others. In ruling over them, we need to be just and merciful. We should never use our position for our own benefit or our own control.
And when we slip and fall – notice, I say when, not if – we need to come to the Lord to be reconciled with Him. We also need to be reconciled with whomever we may have hurt or affronted. It is not easy being a follower of Christ. The challenges and responsibilities are many and the more that we shoulder, the more we will be asked to carry.
All rulers know that they are dependent upon others to make sure that their rule is effective. We need to rely on God, rather than ourselves, when carrying out the responsibilities of our faith. He will guide us if we allow and He will lead us around the pitfalls of life lest we fall or be led astray.
FAITH ACTION: Ask God to help you to set a good, gracious example in all that you do today.