Refreshing

Daily
in God’s Word
Emphasis on

Leadership

December 2018
 December 2016

Searching for Leaders

December 1
 Bible Reading: I Samuel 13:1-16
 Key Verse: Verse 14- "But now thy kingdom shall not
continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his
own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be
captain over his people, because thou hast not kept
that which the LORD commanded thee."
Key Words: the LORD hath sought him a man
after his own heart

Real spiritual leaders are in short supply. Constantly

people and groups search for them. The question echoes in
every corner of the church: Who will lead?
The Bible shows us that when God does find a person
who is ready to lead, to commit to taking on the responsibility
of guiding others, even these men have shortcomings. Think
of Moses, Gideon, and David – all great leaders with
shortcomings.
To be a leader in the church requires strength and
faith. Samuel Brendle, a gifted leader himself, wrote in regard
to leadership: “It is not won by promotion, but by many
prayers and tears. It is attained by confession of sin, and
much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-
surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold
uncomplaining embrace of the cross, and by eternally looking
unto Jesus crucified. It is not gained by seeking great things
for ourselves, but like Paul, by counting those things that are
gain to us as loss for Christ. This is a great price, but it must
be paid by the leader whose power is recognized and felt in
heaven, on earth, and in hell.”
Today, I challenge you to lay aside your selfish aims
and ambitions, and surrender yourself to be a leader in God’s
army.

What to do:
✞ Say yes to God and no to the world.
Leadership and Respect
December 2

 Bible Reading: Genesis 4:1 – 15

 Key Verse: Verse 5 – "But unto Cain and to his
offering he had not respect. And Cain was very
wroth, and his countenance fell."
Key Words: But unto Cain and to his offering he
had not respect

Respect is something most everyone wants and very

few get, but I believe the Bible lays down some basic
principles by which respect comes. Please note them with me.
 First, we must do right (Genesis 4:4, see also
Galatians 6:7).
 Secondly, we must be right (Genesis 4:5a).
 Thirdly, we must act right. (No one will ever
respect childish actions from an adult. Genesis
4:5b).
 Fourthly, we must live right (Genesis 4:6-7).
 Last of all, we must respect others (Genesis 4:8-
10).
If you want to be respected, these things must be in
place in your life.
Every Christian says, “Not my will, but thine be done,
O Lord.” But do we mean it? In Christianity it is so vital that
each of us be respected. Israel would have never listened to
Joshua had they not respected him. The church at Philippi
would have never listened to Paul had they not respected him.
The house of Cornelius would have never listened to Peter had
they not respected him.
Today, dear friend, will you commit yourself by God’s
grace to work at being respected by others? You may wonder,
how do I gain this respect?
A man once parked his car on a street. Up came a boy
and looked it over. His eyes were wide with admiration of the
beautiful car. “Where did you get this car?” he asked. “My
brother gave it to me,” replied the man. “My, I wish...” The
man knew the boy was wishing that he had a car like that. But
the lad went on and finished the sentence, surprisingly. “I
wish I could be a brother like yours. I have a crippled brother
that I would like to get a car for.” How do you gain respect?
Think more of others than you do yourself.

What to do:
✞ Understand that without respect, no one will follow.

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Demus
December 3

 Bible Reading: Philemon

 Key Verse: Verse 24 - "Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas,
Lucas, my fellowlabourers."
Key Words: Demas

Demas is mentioned three times in the Scripture. We

read about Demas in Philemon. Paul calls him a fellow
laborer. We next read of Demas in Colossians 4:14. Here
Paul simply says “...and Demas.” He has gone from being a
fellow-laborer to being simply Demas. We next read of
Demas in II Timothy 4:10 where we read, “For Demas hath
forsaken me, having loved this present world.”
 Demas started well, but failed to end well.
Robert Clinton has done extensive research in the area
of Biblical leadership. He has determined that there are
approximately 300 leaders chronicled in the Bible. In 1990 he
studied 100 of the most prominent of them. To his dismay, he
discovered that less than one in four of these leaders finished
well. Leadership in any arena is difficult, but it is especially
rough among spiritual leaders because of the Satanic attacks
which accompany the job. The odds of finishing well are
clearly against those in ministry, so we must constantly seek
spiritual empowerment and protection from God.
Each person in the ministry should read and heed this
devotional. Each church member and believer should pray for
those in spiritual leadership. While we should pray for our
political leaders, we must understand that Satan’s attack is
just a as powerful and even more so on those in positions of
spiritual leadership.

What to do:
✞ As leaders, make sure you’re always following God.

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Qualities of a Leader
December 4

 Bible Reading: John 1:43-51

 Key Verse: Verse 43 – " The day following Jesus
would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and
saith unto him, Follow me."
Key Words: Follow me

When Jesus selected leaders he ignored the popular

ideas of popularity and wealth, and selected a motley group
who had no influence, and this group was to “change the
world.”
 Jesus chose from the ranks of workers, not from
professional personnel. Hudson Taylor did the same and
most of the religious world said he would never be successful.
Brother, were they wrong!!
R. E. Thompson suggests that leaders have the
following character traits in regard to people.
 People’s failures do not annoy them but challenge
them.
 Leaders do not “use” people but cultivate people.
 Leaders spend more time developing people than
directing people.
 Leaders spend more time encouraging rather than
criticizing.
 Leaders see people problems as a challenge, not a
“problem.”
Jesus took twelve ordinary, uneducated men who
knew nothing of “building people” and taught them, and they
went forward and changed the world.
Today our job is not to condemn others, but to help
restore and challenge others. That’s what leaders do!

What to do:
✞ Father, lead your family to Godliness.
✞ CEO, lead your business to Godliness.
✞ Pastor, lead your church to Godliness.
✞ Politician, lead our country to Godliness.

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Leading Through Mentoring

December 5

 Bible Reading: Matthew 28

 Key Verse: Verse 20 – "Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
 am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen."
Key Words: Teaching them

In Matthew 28:19-20 we read, “Go ye therefore, and

teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
There is no way a genuine believer can misunderstand this
portion of Scripture. Evangelize - baptize - disciple! We win
people to Christ by telling them the Good News of the Gospel;
then we baptize them as converts; and then we teach them.
None of us are exempt from carrying out any part of this Great
Commission. Just as soul-winning is not a choice, neither is
discipleship a choice. Whether we are parents, pastors, youth
leaders, Sunday School teachers, Christian school educators,
or lay people, we all have the command to disciple.
John Milton Gregory says, “True teaching is not that
which gives out knowledge, but that which stimulates pupils
to gain it. One might say that he who teaches best teaches
least; or that he teaches best those whose pupils who learn
most without being taught directly. Two meanings of the
word teach are involved: one, simply telling; the other,
creating the conditions for real learning.”
Dennis H. Dirks states, “God has chosen teachers to be
the instrument for promoting change.” The root meaning of
the word educate means to be drawn out, rather than filled
with facts. It may be compared with the role of a nurse
assisting in the birth of a baby. The nurse does not merely tell
the mother all she needs to know about the birth process, but
the nurse helps make the birth possible. This is the word for
teaching, to draw out what’s already there. This is also called
mentoring or discipling. God called and has commanded us
as believers - all of us - to grow and mentor others. So I close
by asking you, “Who are you mentoring?” Think about it.
What to do:
✞ Ask God to direct you to others who need
mentoring.

Leading By Example
December 6

 Bible Reading: Philippians 3

 Key Verse: Verse 17 - "Brethren, be followers together
of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us
for an ensample."
Key Words: be followers together of me

It was on a Monday morning, January 18, 1982, Major

Nonn Lowery led the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s flying
precision team, into a clear desert sky. These Air Force
fighters broke from their usual diamond formation to practice
flying abreast (side by side). Major Lowery (the leader of the
Thunderbirds) was flying the number one jet. At all times the
other pilots fly by response to Major Lowery who was known
as the boss. Major Dave Robinson (pilot number two) says
“the boss is our world, whether we’re right side up or upside
down, it makes no difference where the ground is because our
eyes are always on the boss.”
It was from this line abreast formation that the team
began to execute the line abreast loop. At the top of the loop
all four planes were upside down and they began to dive. The
boss pulled back on his stick to complete the loop, but a tiny
piece of metal had come loose and prevented him from pulling
out of the loop. The other pilots kept their eyes focused on the
boss as they had been trained to do. The four planes in
formation slammed into the earth traveling at 490 mph. The
pilots of numbers two, three, and four never had a clue what
was happening because their focus was totally on their leader,
even though they were in one of the most technologically
developed machines known to man. They crashed because
they were following their leader just as they should have,
which brings me to the point.
The responsibility of being a parent, pastor, or teacher
is so much bigger than most people can fathom. Being the
right kind of leader is so much more important than anything
else we can do. We must be keenly aware that our example is
not so much taught as it is caught. That’s one of the reasons
that today’s youth are slamming into the world at such a high
rate of speed, they are becoming spiritual fatalities because of
poor leadership. Parents, staff, Sunday School teachers,
deacons, leaders today, someone has their eyes focused on
you. You are the boss they are following. The stakes are far
too high for us to have a mechanical failure in the cockpits of
our homes, churches and schools. We as leaders must take
the challenge of edifying through our example. If not, we will
lose our next generation of leaders.

What to do:
✞ A failure to lead right will always lead to failure.

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Some Thoughts About

Leadership
December 7

 Bible Reading: Acts 6

 Key Verse: Verse 3- " Wherefore, brethren, look ye out
among you seven men of honest report, full of the
Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business."
Key Words: full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom
 Leadership doesn’t come overnight. It takes time,
integrity, and intestinal fortitude to become a leader.
J. Oswald Sanders in his book on leadership says, “The
reputation of a great leader grows with the years.” Sanders
also says, “When a Christian leader full of high ideals lives a
holy and joyful life in front of unbelievers, they often want to
cultivate a similar experience.”
Myron Rush identifies tough issues facing every
Christian leader in The New Leader. We are wise to ponder
them slowly.
 You must be willing to stand alone.
 You must be willing to go against public opinion in
order to promote what you believe.
 You must be willing to risk failure.
 You must become master of your emotions.
 You must strive to remain above reproach.
 You must be willing to make decisions others don’t
want to make.
 You must be willing to say no at times, even when
you’d like to say yes.
 You must sometimes be willing to sacrifice
personal interests for the good of the group.
 You must never be content with the average; you
must always strive for the best.
 People must be more important to you than
possessions.
 You will have to work harder to keep your life in
balance than people do who are not leaders.
Being a leader may not be easy, but it is so very
spiritually rewarding to know that God is using you to have an
impact in the lives of others.

What to do:
✞ Pray for your leaders; they need your prayers.

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 Maturity and Leadership
December 8

 Bible Reading: I Timothy 3:1-7

 Key Verse: 6– "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with
pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."
Key Words: Not a novice

Spiritual maturity is an absolute to good leadership. A

novice or new convert should never be pushed into leadership.
Just as a plant needs time to develop a good root system so it
can bear fruit, so does a young convert. So Paul warns us that
those in leadership should not be a novice.
In verse 6 Paul also tells us why we should not thrust a
novice into the position of a leader “lest being lifted up with
pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” A new
convert does not yet possess the spiritual stability essential to
leading people wisely.
The story of the church and its mission is filled with
examples of failed leaders who were appointed to lead. A
novice suddenly placed in authority over others faces the
danger of an inflated ego. Instead, the promising convert
should be given a wider opportunity to serve under wise
leadership and develop both their natural and spiritual gifts.
He should not be advanced too fast, lest he become puffed up;
neither should he be repressed, lest he become discouraged.
Speaking of experienced leadership, I read the
following in regard to Winston Churchill.
“During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced
to make a painful choice. The British secret service had
broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill that the
Germans were going to bomb Coventry. He had two
alternatives: (1) evacuate the citizens and save hundreds of
lives at the expense of indicating to the Germans that the code
was broken; or (2) take no action, which would kill hundreds
but keep the information from flowing and possibly save
many more lives. Churchill had to choose and followed the
second course.”
What to do:
✞ Remember, maturity is needed in leadership in
order that the tough decisions be the right decisions.

Spiritual Leaders
December 9

 Bible Reading: I Peter 5:1-7

 Key Verse: Verse 1 – “The elders which are among
you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory
that shall be revealed:"
Key Words: The elders which are among you

Peter was a natural leader. What Peter did, seemingly,

the other apostles did as well. Where he went, they went.
Peter’s influence as a leader was without equal.
In our Bible reading we see five qualities of leadership.
First of all, a leader is self-motivated. Notice verse
two, “...taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; ....” A leader doesn’t have to be coerced into action,
a leader is self-motivated.
Secondly, a leader doesn’t lead for money, but for the
passion and heart of the project that lies before them. Verse
2b says, “...not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ....”
Thirdly, a good leader is not a dictator but is a
motivator: verse 3a, “Neither as being lords over God’s
heritage.”
Fourthly, a leader must be a worthy example for the
people: verse 3b, “...but being ensamples to the flock.”
And last of all, a leader must be humble: verse 5, “...be
clothed with humility....”
 Speaking of humility and leadership, Hudson Taylor
was scheduled to speak at a large Presbyterian church in
Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service
introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He
told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished
in China, and then presented him as “our illustrious guest.”
Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his
message by saying, “Dear friends, I am the little servant of an
illustrious Master.” Amen and amen!

What to do:
✞ Apply the five qualities of leadership found in
today’s devotion.

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A Great Task
December 10

 Bible Reading: Mark 9:14-29

 Key Verse: Verse 28– "And when he was come into
the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could
not we cast him out?"
Key Words: Why could not we cast him out?

Jesus trained His disciples for their future roles. He

taught by example and by precept. His teaching was done “on
the road.” Jesus did not ask the disciples to sit down and take
notes. Jesus’ classroom was on the highways and byways of
life. Jesus placed His disciples into roles that required on-
the-job training. In our Bible reading we see the disciples
unable to help the young lunatic. Jesus did not protect the
disciples from the difficult task of life but He taught them how
to handle the task, and told them why they had failed.
Jesus was preparing them for their specific task in life.
God does that with us. For example, God prepared Adoniram
Judson to become a pioneer missionary in Burma by giving
him the necessary qualities of graciousness and courage.
 Professor G. Warneck described Hudson Taylor as a
man full of faith and the Holy Ghost, entirely surrendered to
God and His calling on his life. God does not send us where
He has not prepared us to go.
A great statesman made a speech that turned the tide
of the nation. “May I ask how long you spent preparing that
speech?” an admirer asked. The statesman responded, “All
my life.”
So it is with God. God is preparing you for some great
thing. It may not be great in the eyes of man, but it is in the
eyes of God. So I challenge you to be faithful, dear friend.
God is preparing some of you to lead. Some will lead a few,
others many; but lead you must!!

What to do:
✞ Don’t begrudge the preparation of God. He’s
preparing you for some great task.

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Steel and Velvet

December 11

 Bible Reading: Romans 7:16-25

 Key Verse: Verse 24- "O wretched man that I am! who
shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
Key Words: O wretched man that I am!

One cannot think of leadership without thinking of

Paul. Standing boldly, on the one hand, and proclaiming the
truth of God’s Word, and on the other hand, weeping over the
nation of Israel.
Great leaders have a quality about them; they know
when to be stern and when to weep. They understand their
strengths and their weaknesses.
 It was on February 12, 1959, the 150th anniversary of
the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the distinguished poet and
historian, Carl Sandburg, was invited to Washington, DC, to
speak. Before a joint session of Congress and assembled
diplomatic corps, the astute, eloquent student of Lincoln held
the attention of everyone as he portrayed a very great leader
with very human characteristics. Calling his speech,
appropriately, “Man of Steel and Velvet,” Sandburg helped
everyone see that a respected leader can be both capable and
vulnerable. The mixture may be rare, but when it is there it is
truly effective.
Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on
earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and
soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the
paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect.
While the war winds howled, he insisted that the
Mississippi was one river meant to belong to one country.
While the luck of war wavered and broke and came
again, as generals failed and campaigns were lost, he held
enough forces together to raise new armies and supply them,
until generals were found who made war as victorious war
had always been made, with terror, frightfulness,
destruction...valor and sacrifice past words of man to tell.
In the mixed shame and blame of the immense wrongs
of two crashing civilizations, often with nothing to say, he said
nothing, slept not at all, and on occasions he was seen to weep
in a way that made weeping appropriate, decent, majestic.
Leaders are people of both steel and velvet.

What to do:
✞ Remember: “If you can put your feet on the desk
and look out the window and think without an agenda,
you may be the office manager, but you’re not the
leader.”
--Benno Schmidt, Jr.
Former President of Yale University
 ****************************************

Humor and Leadership

December 12
 Bible Reading: Proverbs 17
 Key Verse: Verse 22 – "A merry heart doeth good like
a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Key Words: A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine
A leader who doesn’t have a sense of humor will
eventually faint. We must understand that leaders deal with
so many issues that they must occasionally laugh or they will
cry themselves away.
In his book on leadership, J. Oswald Sanders wrote:
“Criticized for including humor in his sermon, Charles
Spurgeon, eye twinkling, said: ‘If only you knew how much I
hold back, you would commend me.’ Later writing on the
subject, he said: ‘There are things in these sermons that may
produce smiles, but what of them? The preacher is not quite
sure about a smile being a sin, and at any rate he thinks it less
a crime to cause a momentary laughter than a half-hour of
profound slumber.’”
“Helmut Thielecke wrote: ‘Should we not see that lines
of laughter about the eyes are just as much marks of faith as
are the lines of care and seriousness? Is it only earnestness
that is baptized? Is laughter pagan?... A church is in a bad
way when it banishes laughter from the sanctuary and leaves
it to the cabaret, the nightclub and the toastmasters.’
“Humor is a great asset and an invaluable lubricant in
missionary life. Indeed it is a most serious deficiency if a
missionary lacks a sense of humor. A Swede was urged by
friends to give up the idea of returning to India as a
missionary because it was so hot there. ‘Man,’ he was urged,
‘it is 120 degrees in the shade!’ ‘Vell,’ said the Swede in noble
contempt. ‘Ve don’t always have to stay in the shade, do ve?’
“A. E. Norrish, a missionary to India, testified: ‘I have
never met leadership without a sense of humor; this ability to
stand outside oneself and one’s circumstances, to see things in
perspective and laugh. It is a great safety valve! You will
never lead others far without the joy of the Lord and its
concomitant, a sense of humor.’”
So as a leader, don’t be afraid of humor and never
forget to laugh, even at yourself.

What to do:
✞ Remember that the leader’s true worth may
sometimes be measured by the amount of time they
can remain dead in their office without anyone
noticing.
Leadership and Battles
December 13

 Bible Reading: Joshua 7:1-15

 Key Verse: Verse 3 – "And they returned to Joshua,
and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but
let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai;
and make not all the people to labour thither; for they
are but few."
Key Words: And they returned to Joshua, and said
unto him, Let not all the people go up;

A key for a leader is to know when to go to battle. I

have a saying that goes, “Pick and choose your battles
carefully, or you will end up losing the war.”
As a leader you must understand that God has placed
you in a position of leadership, and He allows you to see
things others may not see. Let me explain it this way.
A pastor I know writes the following: “There are few
things worse than living in a city and not knowing your way
around. This happened to us when we lived in San Francisco
for a few months the latter part of 1957. It is easy to get lost.
All the streets on one side of Mission run in one direction – on
the diagonal. Then you add those incredible hills and the
winding streets and the little tiny signs that should have been
repainted years ago, all the buildings, many of which look
alike, and the fog and the hills and the fog and the trolleys,
and you’re apt to get lost.
 “My wife and I were with some friends atop the new
San Francisco Hilton one year and things changed. The
Hilton was over twenty stories. For the first time the layout of
that city fell into place for me. I can’t really explain why, but
it didn’t until then. Off in this direction was the Golden Gate.
Over here was the Bay Bridge. Down here was Fisherman’s
Wharf, and then Nob Hill and then Chinatown, and back
down south were Day City and points down the peninsula.
From that perspective we could see everything at once.”
And here is the difference: a leader is able to see things
from a different perspective than others. So as a leader when
you go to battle make sure it’s a battle you should fight, not
simply one you are talked into fighting.

What to do:
✞ Pick and choose your battles carefully or everyone
will think you are out just to pick a fight.

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The Ultimate Leader

December 14
 Bible Reading: John 16:1-16
 Key Verse: Verse 13 – "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things
to come."
Key Words: he will guide you into all truth

The real key to safety and success is following the

leadership of the Holy Spirit of God. This provides us with the
ultimate of security.
The author of the following is unknown to me but the
article does provide us with a great truth in regard to safety.
“When I was in the Marine Corps our ship one time
was at the northeastern corner of Formosa (now called
Taiwan) near Taipei. We stopped there at the mouth of the
harbor and awaited the arrival of the harbor pilot, who came
out and took the wheel of the ship and began to weave us
through the pathless waters that led to the dock itself. At first
glance that seemed like an unnecessary thing to do. We could
see the dock less than a mile ahead. But the closer we looked
and the longer we looked over the side of the ship into the
crystal clear waters, we could tell why. There were mines
located randomly beneath the surface of the water. If the hull
of our ship had nudged a mine just enough, disaster would
have occurred. But the pilot of the harbor knew where every
mine was located.”
So it is with the Holy Spirit. He knows every danger
we face and how to avoid the wiles of the devil. If I could give
you any advice, it would be to humble yourself and follow the
guidance of the Holy Spirit of God.

What to do:
✞ Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and you’ll
never make a wrong turn.

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Leadership and Decisions

December 15

 Bible Reading: I Corinthians 6:1-12

 Key Verse: Verse 12 – "All things are lawful unto me,
but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful
for me, but I will not be brought under the power of
any."
Key Words: I will not be brought under the power
of any

As you read God’s Word, you find over and over again
people making wrong decisions.
 Adam and Eve made a wrong decision in eating
the forbidden fruit.
  Cain made a wrong decision in slaying his
brother, Abel.
 Abraham made a wrong decision when he went
into Egypt. He made another wrong decision
in having Sarah lie about who she was.
 Lot made a wrong decision in going into
Sodom and Gomorrah.
 Joshua made a wrong decision in going to
battle against Ai.
 Achan made a wrong decision when he stole
the silver, gold, and goodly Babylonish
garment.
 David made a wrong decision in not going to
battle and committing adultery with
Bathsheba.
 Peter made a wrong decision out of pride, and
said he would never deny the Lord; but he did!
The list could go on and on! The question is: How can
I keep from making wrong decisions that adversely effect, not
only me but others as well?
There are four Biblical questions that if we answer
honestly, can keep us from making wrong decisions.
First of all, ask yourself: Will my decision lead me to
spiritual freedom or slavery (I Corinthians 6:12)? If all those
mentioned above would have simply asked this one question,
and answered it honestly, they never would have made their
wrong decisions.
Secondly, spiritually, will this cause others to stumble
(I Corinthians 8:9)? After Peter had denied the Lord three
times, he got five of his brethren and went fishing – not soul-
winning. Peter’s decision caused others to stumble. Let me
ask you, is it possible that by missing church you could cause
others to stumble? Does your walk cause others to stumble?
Ask yourself: Is it possible this decision will cause others to
stumble?
Thirdly, ask yourself: By making this decision, will it
build me up spiritually (I Corinthians 10:23)? Did Achan’s
stealing, David’s adultery, and Abraham’s lying build them up
spiritually in your eyes?
 Fourthly, ask yourself: If I make this decision, will it
bring glory to God (I Corinthians 10:31)? Can I honestly say
that not tithing, or lying, or adultery, or stealing, or missing
church brings glory to God?
So if you ever wonder about what course of action to
take, if you ever wonder what the right thing to do is, ask
yourself these four questions and answer them honestly, and
you’ll know what to do.

What to do:
✞ Apply the above principles in making decisions.

****************************************

The Ability to Inspire

December 16

 Bible Reading: Nehemiah 6

 Key Verse: Verse 15 – "So the wall was finished in the
twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and
two days."
Key Words: So the wall was finished

The power of inspiring others to serve and sacrifice

will mark God’s leaders.
Nehemiah had this quality. The people of Jerusalem
were disheartened and dispirited when he arrived. In no time
he unified them into an effective team of workers. Such was
his leadership that we read of in Nehemiah 4:6, “The people
had a mind to work.”
“In the heyday of the New York Yankees, manager Joe
McCarthy once interviewed a coach being brought up to the
majors from a Yankee farm team.
‘How much do you know about psychology?’ McCarthy
asked. The coach said he had studied it in college.
’So you think you’re good,’ said McCarthy.
The coach replied: ‘I don’t know how good I am, but
it’s a subject I’ve studied.’
 ‘All right,’ McCarthy said, ‘I’ll give you a test.’
McCarthy said that a few years before he’d had a problem and
had gone to Frankie Crosetti, his shortstop, to resolve it.
‘Frank,’ McCarthy said, ‘I’m not satisfied with the way
Lou Gehrig is playing first base. He’s too lackadaisical. I want
you to help me. From now on, charge every ground ball.
When you get it, fire it as quickly and as hard as you can to
first base. Knock Gehrig off the bag if you can. I don’t care if
you throw wild or not, but throw it fast and make it tough for
him.’
Crosetti demurred and said: ‘Maybe Lou won’t like the
idea.’
‘Who cares what Gehrig likes!’ McCarthy snapped.
‘Just do as I tell you.’
McCarthy then said to the coach: ‘Now that’s the story.
What conclusions do you draw from it?’
The coach considered the matter for a minute, then
answered: ‘I guess you were trying to wake up Gehrig.’
‘See?’ McCarthy shrugged his shoulders in
resignation. ‘You missed the point entirely. There wasn’t a
thing wrong with Gehrig. Crosetti was the one who was
sleeping. I wanted to wake up Crosetti.’”
I do not recommend deception as a method of
motivation, but you get the idea. Leaders have the ability to
inspire.

What to do:
✞ Any child can tear down or tear apart but leaders
motivate and build up.

****************************************

Spiritual Leadership
December 17

 Bible Reading: Acts 6

 Key Verse: Verse 3 - "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out
among you seven men of honest report, full of the
 Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business."
Key Words: full of the Holy Ghost

Spiritual leadership requires Spirit-filled people.

Other qualities are important, but to be Spirit-filled is
indispensable.
The book of Acts is the story of people who established
the church and led the missionary movement. We cannot fail
to note that even the office of deacon required people be filled
with the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leaders should be known for
their integrity and judgment, but primarily they should be
known for their spirituality.
“Madame Chiang Kai-shek once told the story of a
young Buddhist monk who sat outside his temple two
thousand years ago, hands clasped in prayer. He looked very
pious and he chanted ‘Amita Buddha’ all day. Day after day
he intoned these words, believing that he was acquiring grace.
One day the head priest of the temple sat next to him and
began rubbing a piece of brick against a stone. Day after day
he rubbed one against the other. This went on week after
week until the young monk could no longer contain his
curiosity, and he finally blurted out, ‘Father, what are you
doing?’ ‘I’m trying to make a mirror,’ said the head priest.
‘But that’s impossible!’ said the young monk. ‘You can’t make
a mirror from brick.’ ‘True,’ replied the head priest. ‘And it is
just as impossible for you to acquire grace by doing nothing
except chant ‘Amita Buddha’ all day long.’”
I’m afraid today that many leaders in our churches are
like the young Buddhist. They have a good chant, but display
very little true spirituality. I trust this is not the case in your
life.

What to do:
✞ Spirituality is not simply in what we say, but in
what we do.

****************************************
The Spiritual Leader and Prayer
December 18

 Bible Reading: Luke 5:1-16

 Key Verse: Verse 16 – "And he withdrew himself into
the wilderness, and prayed."
Key Words: and prayed

Jesus would spend full nights in prayer (Luke 6:12).

He would often rise before dawn to spend time with the
Father in prayer (Mark 1:35). Prayer is a vital part of the
leader’s life. Jesus told Peter, James, and John: "What, could
ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40) Then in
verse 41 we read in part, “Watch and pray.”
Thomas Lye said, “I would rather stand against the
cannons of the wicked than against the prayers of the
righteous.”
While very ill, John Knox, the founder of the
Presbyterian Church in Scotland, called to his wife and said,
“Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor.” After
he listened to the beautiful prayer of Jesus recorded in John
17, he seemed to forget his weakness. He began to pray,
interceding earnestly for his fellowmen. He prayed for the
ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He pleaded in
behalf of people who had been recently converted. And he
requested protection for the Lord’s servants, many of whom
were facing persecution. As Knox prayed, his spirit went
Home to be with the Lord. The man of whom Queen Mary
had said, “I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my
enemies,” ministered through prayer until the moment of his
death.
As spiritual leaders, I wonder how many of the
unrighteous fear our prayers.

What to do:
✞ Pray as if everything depends on God, and then
work as if everything depends on you.
 ****************************************

The Cost of Discipleship

December 19

 Bible Reading: Matthew 10:24-42

 Key Verse: Verse 38 – "And he that taketh not his
cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."
Key Words: worthy of me

At the age of 32, Scottish biologist Henry Drummond

went on an exploratory venture into Africa. He visited the
grave of David Livingstone, he saw missionaries laid low with
tropical diseases, and he became ill with a raging fever that
lasted for a month. He returned home with a greater depth of
character, a profound compassion for the lost, and a new
resolve to give himself to the service of his Master. To
Drummond, meditating upon the suffering of Jesus Christ
and seeing firsthand the sacrifice of those devoted servants
helped him become a dedicated leader for Christ.
Now, leadership for Christ doesn’t call for an unwise
fanaticism that invites persecution or that sees virtue in
suffering. But to lead for our Lord, we must have the right
priorities. Our motivation comes when we, like Drummond,
reflect upon the price Christ paid for our redemption and
think about the faithful servants of God who have given
themselves unreservedly to His service.
In sharp contrast to this and to Jesus’ emphasis upon
the high cost of leading for Him, some preachers assure their
listeners that living for Christ guarantees health, wealth, and
happiness. Then too, thousands who profess faith in Jesus
attend church and live decent lives, but they are so conformed
to this world that they neither impress nor offend anyone.
Think about these questions: If we lived in the first century,
would the ungodly be throwing us to the lions? Burning us at
the stake? Let’s never forget that leadership for Christ is
costly.
What to do:
✞ Be a spiritual leader, not for self glory but for God’s
glory.

The Leader and Time

December 20

 Bible Reading: Psalm 39

 Key Verse: Verse 5 – "Behold, thou hast made my
days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing
before thee: verily every man at his best state is
altogether vanity. Selah."
Key Words: Behold, thou hast made my days as
an handbreadth

The quality of one’s leadership will be in part

measured by how we use our time. Certain things may be out
of our control, such as work hours, etc.; but it’s the other
hours of the day and how we use them that reflect our wisdom
with time.
Each moment of the day is a gift from God that
deserves our care, for our time is short and the work is great.
How would you like to spend two years making phone
calls to people who aren’t home? Sound absurd? According
to one time management study, that’s how much time the
average person spends trying to return calls to people who
never seem to be in. Not only that, we spend six months
waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and another eight
months reading junk mail. These unusual statistics should
cause us to do time-use evaluation. Once we recognize that
simple “life maintenance” can chip away at our time in such
huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don’t busy
ourselves “in vain” (Psalm 39:6).
Psalm 39 gives us some perspective. In David’s
complaint to God, he said, “Behold, thou hast made my days
as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee”
(verse 5). He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth
is brief. And He doesn’t want us to waste it. When we do, we
throw away one of the most precious commodities He gives
us. Each minute is an irretrievable gift – an unredeemable
slice of eternity. Sure, we have to make the phone calls, and
we must wait at the light; but what about the rest of our time?
Are we using it to advance the cause of Christ and to enhance
our relationship with Him? Is our time well spent?
What to do:
✞ Remember, yesterday is a cashed check; tomorrow
is a promissory note; today is cash in hand – so use it
wisely. I recommend you invest it in God’s service.

****************************************

The Leader as a Reader

December 21

 Bible Reading: II Timothy 4:1-13

 Key Verse: Verse 13 - "The cloke that I left at Troas
with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and
the books, but especially the parchments."
Key Words: and the books

Historians tell us that the books Paul wanted Timothy

to bring to him were probably works of Jewish history plus
the Old Testament Law and Prophets. Paul was a reader!!
During his imprisonment and shortly before his
martyrdom in 1536, William Tyndale wrote to the governor-
in-chief asking the following: “A warmer cap, a candle, a
piece of cloth to patch my leggings. . . . But above all, I
beseech and entreat your clemency to be urgent with the
Procureur [sic] that he may kindly permit me to have my
Hebrew Bible, Hebrew grammar and Hebrew Dictionary, that
I may spend time with that in study.”
The leader who intends to grow spiritually and
intellectually must read. A W. Tozier said, “To enjoy a great
religious book requires a degree of consecration to God and
detachment from the world that few modern Christians have.
The early Christian Fathers, the Mystics, the Puritans, are not
hard to understand, but they inhabit the highlands where the
air is crisp and rarefied, and none but the God-enamored can
come. . . . One reason why people are unable to understand
great Christian classics is that they are trying to understand
without any intention of obeying them.”
Let me encourage you to enjoy a good book but always
begin with the Word of God.

What to do:
✞ Read – but not garbage.
Read God’s Word and biographies and
autobiographies of Godly leaders.

****************************************

Improving Leadership
December 22

 Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-8

 Key Verse: Verse 8 – "Or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."
Key Words: he that ruleth, with diligence

Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland

Mission, was a simple but astute man. He had the gift of
saying profound things in a simple way. This is certainly a
character trait one needs to improve in their leadership.
Taylor said that there are six qualities that will help to
improve one’s ability to lead.
1. Improve the character of the work (people should
know what is expected of them).
2. Work toward making the workers successful.
3. Remove stumbling blocks that keep workers from
succeeding.
4. Oil the wheels that stick. Solve problems quickly.
5. Amend whatever is defective. Correct things that are
wrong.
 6. Be creative, not critical.
I might add one more thing: leadership is always out
front. Never lead from the rear or from the sidelines. It was
leadership from the rear that led Israel into the wilderness.

What to do:
✞ Ask yourself and answer honestly: Are you seeking
to be a better leader in the home, work, or school?

****************************************

The Leader and Jealousy

December 23

 Bible Reading: Numbers 12

 Key Verse: Verse 1 – "And Miriam and Aaron spake
against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman
whom he had married: for he had married an
Ethiopian woman."
Key Words: Miriam and Aaron spake against
Moses

Most leaders at some time face the problem of a

jealous rival. Even Moses encountered that test. Jealousy is a
common weapon of the devil.
Moses’ first such challenge came from within his own
family, his sister and brother. They had apparently forgotten
that without Moses’ noble decision to lead the people out of
Egypt, they and all the rest of Israel would still be living under
the slave master’s lash.
Miriam by this time was elderly and should have
known better. She promoted gossip against Moses because of
his marriage to an Ethiopian. Race hatred is not the sin of
this century alone. Miriam resented the intrusion of a
foreigner and drew the weakling Aaron into her rebellion.
 Not content with second place, Miriam and Aaron, led
by the devil, tried to remove Moses by a coup. They cloaked
their treachery in piety, “Hath the Lord indeed spoken only
through Moses? Hath he not also spoken by us?”
Moses was deeply wounded, but he said nothing to
vindicate himself. His main concern was God’s glory, not his
own position or privilege. “(Now the man Moses was very
meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the
earth)” (Numbers 12:3). Yet though Moses maintained a
dignified silence, God would not allow such a challenge to the
authority of His servant to go without response.
Because the offense was public, judgment and
punishment would also be public. “And the cloud departed
from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous,
white as snow:” the record states (Numbers 12:10). Such a
drastic punishment points to the gravity of her sin, and once
again Moses’ greatness shines. His only response was to pray
for his sister and God graciously responded in mercy.
The lesson for the leader is plain. The person who fills
a role appointed by God need not worry about vindicating his
or her work when rivals become jealous or treacherous. Such
a leader is safe in the hands of a heavenly Protector. Indeed,
God shows how safe with His ominous words to Miriam:
“Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my
servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:8).
God will defend the leaders He has chosen. He will
honor, protect, and vindicate them. Leaders need not worry
about defending their rights to their office.

What to do:
✞ Don’t respond to criticism. If the critics are right,
admit you’re wrong. If the critics are wrong, keep on
serving; but never get into a battle of words.
Remember, you’re the leader – so lead – rather than
follow the critics’ lead.

****************************************
 Self-Sacrifice
December 24

 Bible Reading: Galatians 6

 Key Verse: Verse 17 – "From henceforth let no man
trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the
Lord Jesus."
Key Words: for I bear in my body the marks of the
Lord Jesus.

Self-sacrifice is a part of the cost that must be paid in

order to lead.
J. Oswald Sanders writes: “A cross stands in the path
of spiritual leadership, and the leader must take it up. ‘Hereby
perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for
us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren’ (I
John 3:16). To the degree the cross of Christ is across our
shoulders and over our backs, so the resurrection life of Christ
is manifest through us. No cross, no leadership. Paul
declared, ‘I die daily’ (I Corinthians 15:31b).
“’And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be
servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom
for many’ (Mark 10:44-45). Each of the heroes of faith in
Hebrews 11 was called to sacrifice as part of his or her service.
Those who lead the church are marked by a willingness to give
up personal preferences, to surrender legitimate and natural
desires for the sake of God. Bruce Barton quotes a sign at a
service station: ‘We will crawl under your car oftener and get
ourselves dirtier than any of our competition.’ That is the
kind of service the Christian seeks to give.
“Samuel Zwemer remarked that the only thing Jesus
took pains to show after His resurrection were His scars. On
the Emmaus road His disciples recognized neither Him nor
His message. Not until Jesus broke the bread and they
possibly saw the scars did they know the person for who He
was. When Jesus stood among His demoralized band in the
upper room after the resurrection, He showed them ‘both His
hands and [His] side.’”
 As Paul well knew for it was Paul who said, “For I bear
in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”

What to do:
✞ Pray for your spiritual leadership.

Merry Christmas
December 25

 Bible Reading: II Chronicles 7

 Key Verse: Verse 14 – " If my people, which are called
by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and
seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then
will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land."
Key Words: If my people

There is a movement afoot today to have God totally

removed from our existence. This is not just the ranting of a
Baptist preacher, this is a fact.
 God is not allowed in our public schools but
evolution is.
 Nothing religious or symbolic of God is allowed on
government property or in government buildings.
 Many department stores have removed Christ
from Christmas referring to Christmas as the
“holiday season.” The Christmas tree has become
in many cases the holiday tree. Christmas songs
are referred to as holiday songs. Now for some
reason this just doesn’t fit. Can you imagine
singing, “Have yourself a merry little holiday” or
“I’m dreaming of a white holiday?”
 The Bible is not considered a “credible authority”
on such subjects as abortion and homosexuality.
  Those of us who believe in God and are doers of
the Word are called “extreme right wingers” and
are considered a threat to society.
 In our society Allah, Buddha, Confucius, and
others are equal to the true and living God.
Which raises the question why, and how have we
deteriorated to such a lowly state of existence?
First of all, Satan is at work. We are told in Ephesians
6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.” It is interesting to note that there are three
encounters between God and Satan. In the first encounter in
Isaiah, Satan wanted to be just like God. In the second
encounter in Matthew, Satan wanted God to worship him; and
in the third encounter in Revelation Satan wants to destroy
God. Each encounter Satan desires more power and
authority. Well, we are now living in the last days when Satan
wants to see God destroyed, which is one of the reasons we
find ourselves in this depraved spiritual condition.
Secondly, society is to blame. The lost world sees God
as the enemy and standing in their way of living as they
choose. Remember, it was the people who yelled “Crucify
him, crucify him.”
Thirdly, we are to blame. Yes, we are born-again
believers but we have failed to stand for God. We in the past
were passive about which judges and political leaders were
going into office. We were happy so long as we had our house,
car, a little pleasure, and our retirement program in place.
We went to sleep on the job while the ungodly forces of evil
were at work.
So now what do we do?
1. Pray (II Chronicles 7:14).
2. Write the heads of department store chains such as
Wal-Mart, Sears, Kohl’s, and Target. Tell them to put
Christ back in Christmas.
3. Vote for politicians who stand for right.
4. Witness and spread the gospel.
5. Be faithful to God yourself through prayer, witnessing,
church attendance, and yes, even financial giving.
 We must continue to occupy until the Lord returns!
Merry Christmas!

What to do:
✞ Put Christ first, not just on Christmas, but
everyday.

Failure
December 26
 Bible Reading: Genesis 12
 Key Verse: Verse 13 – "Say, I pray thee, thou art my
sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and
my soul shall live because of thee."
Key Words: Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister

Can you see Abraham as a failure? He was. He failed

when he faced the crisis of a famine in the land.
Many people who appear to be at the height of their
careers hide a great inner sense of failure. Alexander
Maclaren, the great British preacher, delivered a wonderful
address to a large crowd, but turned away overwhelmed with
failure. “I must not speak on such an occasion again,” he said.
Were his expectations too high? Or did the devil bring
him grief when he should have felt great joy?
How a leader handles failure (or simply feelings of
failure) will set much of the agenda for the future. Peter
appeared washed up as a leader after his denial of the Christ,
but repentance and love reopened the door of opportunity,
and Peter’s leadership touched all the rest of Christendom.
“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”
Most Bible characters met with failure, and survived.
Even when the failure was immense, those that found
leadership again refused to lie in the dust and bemoan their
tragedy. In fact, their failure led to a greater conception of
God’s grace. They came to know the God of the second
chance, and sometimes the third and fourth.
 The historian James Anthony Froude wrote: “The
worth of a man must be measured by his life, not by his failure
under a singular and peculiar trial. Peter the apostle, though
forewarned, three times denied his Master on the first alarm
of danger; yet that Master, who knew his nature in its strength
and in its weakness, chose him.”
Every leader must understand that just as success is
fleeting, no failure is final. So don’t become too high when
things are good, nor too low when things aren’t so good. Just
keep going.
What to do:
✞ Remember during the
good times and the bad – steady
she goes!!

****************************************

The Wrong Example

December 27

 Bible Reading: Jude 1 – 9

 Key Verse: Verse 7 – "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha,
and the cities about them in like manner, giving
themselves over to fornication, and going after
strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering
the vengeance of eternal fire."
Key Words: are set forth for an example

Godly leaders are not “control freaks” or manipulators,

but are examples of righteousness. We are not to drive God’s
people but lead them into righteousness.
Eli Black was a brilliant businessman best known for
two events in his life. He masterminded the multi-million
dollar takeover of the United Fruit conglomerate, and he
jumped to his death from the 42 nd floor of the Pan Am
building in New York City.
In the book An American Company, an executive
described a business lunch he had with Eli Black. When the
waitress brought a plate of cheese and crackers as an
appetizer, Black reached out and took them, placed them on
the table, blocked them with his arms, and continued talking.
The executive hadn’t eaten for hours and hinted that he would
like a cracker. But Black acted as though he hadn’t heard him
and went on with the business meeting. After a while, Black
placed a cracker and cheese on the tips of his fingers and
continued to talk. Several moments later, Black placed the
cracker on the executive’s plate and then blocked the rest as
before. It was clear that Black was in charge, manipulating
others as he pleased. When you play “follow the leader,”
check to see who is at the head of the line. Eli Black, for all his
power, ended up in suicide. Jesus Christ, in all His humility,
ended up the Savior of the world.
Always remember, believers belong to God, not the
human leader; so be a wise, humble steward.

What to do:
✞ Remember, good leaders are not in it for self, but
service.

****************************************

Leadership and Delegation

December 28

 Bible Reading: Exodus 18:13-26

 Key Verse: Verse 18 – "Thou wilt surely wear away,
both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this
thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to
perform it thyself alone."
Key Words: Thou wilt surely wear away

One area of leadership is the ability to realize the

abilities and limitations of others and the willingness to
delegate to others responsibilities where they have the ability
to carry out the task at hand.
D. L. Moody once said, “It is far better to put a
thousand men to work than it is to do the work of a thousand
men.”
 The degree to which a leader is able to delegate work is
a measure of his success.
One of the great Biblical illustrations of delegating is
found in the life of Jethro and his son-in-law, Moses. Jethro
saw that Moses could not keep pace with all that was before
him. Jethro made two great arguments for delegating some of
the work to others.
First, in Exodus 18:18 Jethro says that the work is too
heavy for Moses: “Thou wilt surely wear away.” I have noticed
in the ministry that those who for whatever reason will not
delegate work to others grow weary, not only of the work, but
of the call of God upon their lives.
Secondly, Jethro observed in verse 23 that delegating
to others would speed up the work.
Writing about the leader of a large missionary
endeavor, a staff member commented: “He had a great gift of
leadership in that he never interfered with those under him.
He allowed us to do our work and allowed us to learn from
our mistakes.” Another staff member wrote: “He knew what
people could do and saw that they did it, leaving them to make
the best of their opportunities and investigating only if things
went wrong.”
A good leader will follow up, but not interfere with the
work which is delegated.

What to do:
✞ I always tell them under me a key to leadership is
follow-up, follow-up, and then follow-up on the work
of others, not interfere, interfere, and interfere. This is
frustrating to others.

****************************************

Replacing Leaders
December 29

 Bible Reading: Acts 5:33-42


 Key Verse: Verse 38 – "And now I say unto you,
Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this
counsel or this work be of men, it will come to
nought:
Key Words: if this counsel or this work be of men,
it will come to nought

The ultimate test of a person’s leadership is the health

of the organization when he is gone. This truth was behind
Gamaliel’s counsel to the Pharisees (Acts 5:38-39).
A work inspired by God and built on spiritual
principles will survive the shock of leadership change and may
even prosper as a result.
J. Oswald Sanders writes: “We sometimes demean
God by assuming that the death of a great leader takes God by
surprise, or sends God into emergency action. Though we
may feel shock and anxiety, we need not tremble for God is
still in control. Christian leadership is different from the
worldly sort. God selects and prepares leaders for the
kingdom (Mark 10:40). No work of God will be left destitute
until its purposes are achieved.
“Great movements are often thrown into crisis at the
death of a founder. Such crises need not be fatal, however.
Lyman Beecher said that he despaired when the first secretary
of the American Board of Missions died. Then another leader
arose and did so well that Beecher felt despair again when the
second secretary died. At last, when the third secretary
proved himself competent, Beecher began to feel confident
that God’s resources were equal to the task at hand. When
Beecher himself was gone, some believed he could not be
replaced. But all of Beecher’s causes – temperance,
orthodoxy, and foreign missions – found capable new leaders
in God’s time and way. Indeed, no man, however gifted and
devoted, is indispensable to the work of the kingdom.
“God is always at work, though we cannot see it,
preparing people He has chosen for leadership. When the
crisis comes, God fits His appointee into the place ordained
for him. Often such a replacement is not apparent to an
organization, but time will reveal him.”
What to do:
✞ Remember, changes in human leadership should
not shake or dismay us.

Basic Rules of Leadership

December 30
 Bible Reading: Romans 16:1-16
 Key Verse: Verse 1 – "I commend unto you Phebe our
sister, which is a servant of the church which is at
Cenchrea:"
Key Words: I commend unto you Phebe

Paul realized the importance of others and wasn’t

afraid to give them the attention and credit due them. Paul
also had a love for those under him.
A research organization polled five hundred
executives, asking them what traits they thought were most
important in dealing with others. From the information
received, five basic “rules” were formulated. They are:
1. Always give your people the credit that is rightfully
theirs. To do otherwise is both morally and ethically
dishonest.
2. Be courteous. Have genuine consideration for other
people’s feelings, wishes, and situations.
3. Never tamper with the truth. Never rationalize. What
you might like to believe is not necessarily the truth.
4. Be concise in your writing and talking, especially when
giving instructions to others.
5. Be generous. Remember that it is the productivity of
others that makes possible your executive position.
Not bad advice for all of us, but especially for leaders.
What to do:
✞ Do unto others as you would have them do unto
you.

The Bad Leader

December 31
 Bible Reading: I Kings 12:1-19
 Key Verse: Verses 11 & 13 – "And now whereas my
father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to
your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips,
but I will chastise you with scorpions." (vs 11) "And
the king answered the people roughly, and forsook
the old men's counsel that they gave him;" (vs 13)
Key Words: I will add to your yoke (vs 11)
And the king answered the people roughly (vs 13)

Rehoboam wasn’t a leader; he was a tyrant. He was

cruel and demeaning. As a result, the people rebelled against
Rehoboam. A lesson every leader should learn is that evil
breeds rebellion.
In the magazine Bits & Pieces they state that there are
six character traits of a bad leader.
1. Aggressive against people who do not agree with them.
2. Apprehensive that others are scheming against them.
3. Fatalistic in thinking that most workers are not to be
trusted.
4. Inflexible: all work must be done as they say, without
any deviation.
5. Impulsive: preferring action to thinking.
6. Self-willed: thinks of self before thinking of others or
the organization.
It was General Douglas MacArthur who said, “The
greatest quality of a leader is selflessness.”
 Woodrow Wilson said, “I use not only my own brains,
but also all that I can borrow.”

What to do:
✞ Understand that without God, you can do nothing.
I deeply appreciate the help
of

Mary Parsons

Glenda Myrick

And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these

people to help, this
devotional would not have
been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road

Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org