Take Me To Your Leader
Reflection:
Today we see again the importance of leadership in the Church. As someone has said, "As it goes with with the leaders so it goes with the church." This is certainly true of the readings today. In Jeremiah we see the lack of godly leaders and faithful shepherds was a big reason God brought judgment on the house of The Lord. While King Josiah had successfully implemented some reform in returning to the Book of the Law and having it read in the public assembly his successors turned to evil ways lavishing things upon themselves and neglecting the flock they were called to serve.
Contrast this with Timothy, Paul's young protege, who Paul admonishes in today's lesson. Timothy is young, but Paul exhorts him to not let others look down upon because of his age but that he would be example to his followers in every way. Specifically Paul says watch your life and teaching closely. Notice he does not separate doctrine from how he lives his life. Paul realizes these two are inseparable. As the saying goes "lead by example".
There is a huge need in the church today as well for those who lead to watch their life and doctrine closely. As we raise up young leaders there is as much need for character formation as doctrinal formation. How we live our lives says as much about what we believe as what we teach.
Paul also gives the very practical advice to Timothy on how to treat widows and those older than him. He advises him to treat older men with respect and to be kind to widows but also encourage them to a pure life and their kids should also provide for them when they have the means. These are great instructions for us today as we lead me raise up other leaders for the next generation.
Psalm 102:23-28
He has weakened my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days.
24 I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the [a]midst of my days,
Your years are throughout all generations.
25 “Of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 “[b]Even they will perish, but You endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
27 “But You are [c]the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 “The children of Your servants will continue,
And their [d]descendants will be established before You.”
Jeremiah 21:11-22:30
11 For thus says the Lord in regard to [a]Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in the place of Josiah his father, who went forth from this place, “He will never return there; 12 but in the place where they led him captive, there he will die and not see this land again.
Messages about the Kings
13 “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness
And his [b]upper rooms without justice,
Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay
And does not give him his wages,
14 Who says, ‘I will build myself a roomy house
With spacious [c]upper rooms,
And cut out its windows,
[d]Paneling it with cedar and painting it [e]bright red.’
15 “Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
And do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
16 “He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy;
Then it was well.
Is not that what it means to know Me?”
Declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
Are intent only upon your own dishonest gain,
And on shedding innocent blood
And on practicing oppression and extortion.”
18 Therefore thus says the Lord in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,
“They will not lament for him:
‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’
They will not lament for him:
‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’
19 “He will be buried with a donkey’s burial,
Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
20 “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,
And lift up your voice in Bashan;
Cry out also from Abarim,
For all your lovers have been crushed.
21 “I spoke to you in your prosperity;
But you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your practice from your youth,
That you have not obeyed My voice.
22 “The wind will sweep away all your shepherds,
And your lovers will go into captivity;
Then you will surely be ashamed and humiliated
Because of all your wickedness.
23 “You who dwell in Lebanon,
Nested in the cedars,
How you will groan when pangs come upon you,
Pain like a woman in childbirth!
24 “As I live,” declares the Lord, “even though [f]Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were a signet ring on My right hand, yet I would pull [g]you [h]off; 25 and I will give you over into the hand of those who are seeking your life, yes, into the hand of those whom you dread, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 I will hurl you and your mother who bore you into another country where you were not born, and there you will die. 27 But as for the land to which they desire to return, they will not return to it.
28 “Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered jar?
Or is he an undesirable vessel?
Why have he and his descendants been hurled out
And cast into a land that they had not known?
29 “O land, land, land,
Hear the word of the Lord!
30 “Thus says the Lord,
‘Write this man down childless,
A man who will not prosper in his days;
For no man of his descendants will prosper
Sitting on the throne of David
Or ruling again
1 Timothy 4:11-5:8
11 [a]Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example [b]of those who believe. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the [c]presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [d]ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Honor Widows
5 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to [e]make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 [f]Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. 1 Samuel 2:7
Give, and it will be given to you. Luke 6:38
Heavenly Father, thank you for each new day and the blessings and opportunities you give us to serve you. You have taught us it is greater to give than to receive. Make us servants to others as we serve you. Amen.ZZ
Today we see again the importance of leadership in the Church. As someone has said, "As it goes with with the leaders so it goes with the church." This is certainly true of the readings today. In Jeremiah we see the lack of godly leaders and faithful shepherds was a big reason God brought judgment on the house of The Lord. While King Josiah had successfully implemented some reform in returning to the Book of the Law and having it read in the public assembly his successors turned to evil ways lavishing things upon themselves and neglecting the flock they were called to serve.
Contrast this with Timothy, Paul's young protege, who Paul admonishes in today's lesson. Timothy is young, but Paul exhorts him to not let others look down upon because of his age but that he would be example to his followers in every way. Specifically Paul says watch your life and teaching closely. Notice he does not separate doctrine from how he lives his life. Paul realizes these two are inseparable. As the saying goes "lead by example".
There is a huge need in the church today as well for those who lead to watch their life and doctrine closely. As we raise up young leaders there is as much need for character formation as doctrinal formation. How we live our lives says as much about what we believe as what we teach.
Paul also gives the very practical advice to Timothy on how to treat widows and those older than him. He advises him to treat older men with respect and to be kind to widows but also encourage them to a pure life and their kids should also provide for them when they have the means. These are great instructions for us today as we lead me raise up other leaders for the next generation.
Psalm 102:23-28
He has weakened my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days.
24 I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the [a]midst of my days,
Your years are throughout all generations.
25 “Of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 “[b]Even they will perish, but You endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
27 “But You are [c]the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.
28 “The children of Your servants will continue,
And their [d]descendants will be established before You.”
Jeremiah 21:11-22:30
11 For thus says the Lord in regard to [a]Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who became king in the place of Josiah his father, who went forth from this place, “He will never return there; 12 but in the place where they led him captive, there he will die and not see this land again.
Messages about the Kings
13 “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness
And his [b]upper rooms without justice,
Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay
And does not give him his wages,
14 Who says, ‘I will build myself a roomy house
With spacious [c]upper rooms,
And cut out its windows,
[d]Paneling it with cedar and painting it [e]bright red.’
15 “Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
And do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
16 “He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy;
Then it was well.
Is not that what it means to know Me?”
Declares the Lord.
17 “But your eyes and your heart
Are intent only upon your own dishonest gain,
And on shedding innocent blood
And on practicing oppression and extortion.”
18 Therefore thus says the Lord in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah,
“They will not lament for him:
‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’
They will not lament for him:
‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’
19 “He will be buried with a donkey’s burial,
Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
20 “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,
And lift up your voice in Bashan;
Cry out also from Abarim,
For all your lovers have been crushed.
21 “I spoke to you in your prosperity;
But you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your practice from your youth,
That you have not obeyed My voice.
22 “The wind will sweep away all your shepherds,
And your lovers will go into captivity;
Then you will surely be ashamed and humiliated
Because of all your wickedness.
23 “You who dwell in Lebanon,
Nested in the cedars,
How you will groan when pangs come upon you,
Pain like a woman in childbirth!
24 “As I live,” declares the Lord, “even though [f]Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were a signet ring on My right hand, yet I would pull [g]you [h]off; 25 and I will give you over into the hand of those who are seeking your life, yes, into the hand of those whom you dread, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 I will hurl you and your mother who bore you into another country where you were not born, and there you will die. 27 But as for the land to which they desire to return, they will not return to it.
28 “Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered jar?
Or is he an undesirable vessel?
Why have he and his descendants been hurled out
And cast into a land that they had not known?
29 “O land, land, land,
Hear the word of the Lord!
30 “Thus says the Lord,
‘Write this man down childless,
A man who will not prosper in his days;
For no man of his descendants will prosper
Sitting on the throne of David
Or ruling again
1 Timothy 4:11-5:8
11 [a]Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example [b]of those who believe. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the [c]presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [d]ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Honor Widows
5 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to [e]make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 [f]Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. 1 Samuel 2:7
Give, and it will be given to you. Luke 6:38
Heavenly Father, thank you for each new day and the blessings and opportunities you give us to serve you. You have taught us it is greater to give than to receive. Make us servants to others as we serve you. Amen.ZZ
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