(For more thoughts and happenings on the Pastors you can check them out and two other places. One is Major Chuck's blog and saolympia.blogspot.com and the other is at Facebook.com where they both have pages. If you send them an invite on facebook let them know who you are and how you know them.)
1/2/08 - One of the gifts I received for Christmas was a devotional book by John Maxwell called "Leadership Promises for Your Week". Over the years I've tried following a devotional guide but I was felt discouraged when I would miss a day. (Did that mean I should ready two or three or four to catch up?) I enjoy reading books about leadership so I thought I would give this one a try.
I questioned the value of this book right off the bat this morning. Can you believe that the very first topic covered is on taking responsibility? I believe God is trying to tell me something.
The lesson is from King David's life. (Oh no!) in 1 Chronicles 21 he decided he's going to take a census of his military might. He wanted to know how big, mighty, strong his army was. It was a decision based on pride. It was decision definitely outside of God's will. The aid that he told to carry out the census even questioned him, "Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?" This servant carry's out the order, but is so convicted by how wrong it is that he doesn't do a complete census.
To make a longer story shorter, David feels the heeps of guilt brought on by the Holy Spirit and tries to repent. God gives him a choice of punishments. David makes his choice and a plague comes across the land. Then in a final plea to God David owns up to his mistake and takes full responsibility, "Was it not I who ordered the fighting me to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O Lord My God, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people."
Now that is a real Man. It takes a real man to own up to his mistakes. It takes a Godly man to ask for the punishment for those mistakes to come upon himself. There are times in my own life when I'm not that quick to fess up. Sure, I'll finally give in when facts are presented, but if I want to grow in my relationship with God and in my personal character, I need to seek out forgiveness and accept the consequences of what I've done.
