Once again in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I was deeply impressed by the quality of King David’s leadership. There are good reasons that every king in ancient Judah and Israel was measured against his leadership. King David was the prototypical national leader! More than that, he presents an exemplary pattern for all kinds of leaders today! I only wish more leaders exhibited the qualities of leadership King David demonstrated!
Don’t get me wrong… David wasn’t perfect – in fact, he was a flawed person. His terrible sin in plotting the killing of Uriah and his moral failure with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, led to terrible consequences. But David, when confronted with his sin, confessed it and the record of his sincere repentance is documented in Psalm 51.
But what impressed me so much this morning was the leadership David exhibited in 1 Chronicles 28 & 29… Believe me, a worthy read!
In this passage David humbly expresses gratitude for God choosing him as a leader but also accepts the limitations that God has placed on his leadership. David readily accepts the reality that God desires for him to pass the baton of leadership on to his son, Solomon, and seeks to prepare him and the people for the transition of leadership.
Although one of David’s life-goals had been to “build a house for the Lord,” it is clear his vision will be fulfilled by another, and David accepts that reality. In fact he tells Solomon, “Be careful now, for the Lord has you chosen you to build a house the sanctuary; be strong and do it!”
Then David pulled out the rolls of detailed blueprints for the temple and said, “All this God made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.” Then he urged Solomon, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you! He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished!”
Finally the exemplary leadership of David is exhibited in the provisions he made for the fulfilling of this God-given vision! This is how the Bible describes it… “And David the king said to all the assembly, ‘Solomon my son, whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God! So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able… In addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I now give it…’
Then David challenged the people to follow his example in giving: He asked, “Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord? Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundred, and the officers over the king’s work… Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly!”
(From 1 Chronicles 28:1 – 29:9)
My prayer this morning… Oh, God give us more leaders like this – leaders who exhibit this kind of quality! And Lord, help me to be a leader who exhibits the kind of exemplary leadership David displayed!
Coffee With The Lord
The Best Way To Start the Day- Coffee With The Lord
Following Jesus as a “Spirit-filled, Spirit-led” Person – an Exciting Adventure!
How does the Bible say it? “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) And in other place… “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct (or make straight) your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of that truth once again as I read the account in Acts of Philip, the Spirit-filled and Spirit-led follower of Jesus!
Philip got up in the morning, just as he had every other day and had his time of devotion (his time of “coffee with the Lord”) … And I imagine during that time he committed his entire day to the Lord and his service – however the Lord desired to lead him and use him.
Sometime during the day (we don’t know when) the Bible says “an angel of the Lord” spoke to Philip and said, “Arise, and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Now it appears that would not be a road you would naturally choose to travel because “this was a desert place.” But in the words of Scripture, Philip was obedient and “He arose and went.”
On that barren, desert road that day there happened to be an important court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who managed and oversaw all her treasures. He was traveling back to Ethiopia from Jerusalem where he had worshiped. He was a “God-fearer” (a non-Hebrew who worshiped Jehovah). He had an open heart and apparently was searching for spiritual reality.
The Holy Spirit “nudged” Philip, pointed out his chariot, and said to him, “Go over and join that chariot.” Philip did, and heard him reading Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah (Isaiah 53:7-8). A conversation ensued, Philip explained the “good news about Jesus” who fulfilled the prophecy and the Ethiopian, from a pagan country and culture, became a follower of Jesus and was baptized!
When they both came up out of the water, Philip said goodbye to the Ethiopian official, and the Bible says “he went on his way rejoicing!” But the Bible says this about Philip, who had committed that day to the Lord: “The Spirit of the Lord carried him away… and he found himself in Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” Wow! How exciting!!
(Read the story for yourself… It’s found in Acts 8:26-40)
Incredible! And all in a day of someone who was following Jesus, was filled with the Spirit, and was sensitive and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction! What an adventure! Don’t know about you, but I want to live that way! Just a few minutes ago during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I told the Lord that I wanted my day to belong to Him – that I wanted Him to lead me, guide me, and use me in any way He saw fit! …And “I’m fastening my seatbelt” … Gonna be an exciting day!
I met God this morning… again!
It’s been awhile since I posted this… One of my favorite poems! (My recommendation? Read it and reflect on the truth it expresses!)
I Met God in the Morning
“I met God in the morning,
When my day was at its best
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.
“All day long the Presence lingered;
All day long He stayed with me;
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.
“Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.
“Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind.
When I too had loosed the moorings
With the Presence left behind.
“So, I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way;
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day.”
Ralph Spaulding Cushman
Why not make quality time for the Lord in the morning… I call mine, “coffee with the Lord”
