53. He Will Be With You
Leader, Draw Near
Do you sense God calling you out, asking you to do something that is outside your comfort zone? What is your source of strength?
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52. Rest Interrupted
Leader, Draw Near
Interruptions can be opportunities to demonstrate compassion. Jesus’ compassion included serving the crowd a meal. How we respond when our plans get changed can add to or take away from our resilience.
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51. Where Now is the Lord?
Leader, Draw Near
When circumstances turn from desirable to undesirable or when the task ahead is greater than one’s resources, it is common to want to know our importance to God and whether He is with us in our labors.
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50. Discouragement—I Have Had Enough!
Leader, Draw Near
Discouragement can place us at opposite ends of God’s intention requiring Him to correct us, turn us around, and put us back on His course. Don’t allow threats or the appearance of being the only one interested in what God is working halt your forward momentum and progress.
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49. Character of a Leader—Holy?
Leader, Draw Near
Take a minute and evaluate the presence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Which fruit is most abundant in your life right now? After reflecting on the abundance, think on the fruit you sense needs to be growing in you.
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48. Daniel’s Wise Alternative
Leader, Draw Near
Discerning wisdom is not an overnight process. Spiritual wisdom accompanies the practice of spiritual disciplines, particularly when prayer and Bible study are hallmarks.
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47. The Right Heart
Leader, Draw Near
What is the condition of your heart? Being an effective leader is as much about having the right heart as following proven leadership practices.
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46. Transformation: Clean the Root and Reinsert It
Leader, Draw Near
How do we overcome the dueling natures, the struggle of the flesh to do evil and of the mind that knows to obey the commands of God? We clear away the debris and cultivate in our heart the mind of Christ.
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45. Did You Ask?
Leader, Draw Near
From whom do you seek advice and in whom do you place your trust when it seems you are not receiving discernable direction from God? Asking counsel of wise people is a Scriptural response, and so is asking God to keep you from presumption.
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44. Compassion
Leader, Draw Near
What might cause you to be stingy with empathy or sympathy? Are you tempted to make your compassion for others conditional? Let us strive to find the right blend of Christ-filled compassion and Spirit-guided correction.
info_outlineToday’s Scripture reading comes from Ezekiel 24:18, quoting from the NASB:
“So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded.”
How hard is it to be stripped of one’s most valued possession and be denied grieving rights? God’s relationship with his prophets often defied comprehension. Using them as object lessons in some instances, He asked them to consider obedience of greater importance than even their personal lives. Ezekiel’s commitment and obedience to God are highlighted in a most provocative way.
The prophet was to know in advance that his wife would die that day and was to refrain from mourning her. What a struggle it would be to perform one’s duties following a spouse’s demise without betraying the emotion of loss for the one who was “his great delight.” What did God want from Ezekiel? Could God’s response to the declaration of Samaria and Jerusalem’s adultery and idolatry not be portrayed in a less intrusive manner?
Much can be learned from Ezekiel’s response. He did not question or bargain with God. Why? Ezekiel was convinced of God’s preeminence in much the same way as Abraham who declared of God, “He can raise him from the dead,” when he lifted the knife to take Isaac’s life.
To Ezekiel, God’s preeminence—his first place in judging, offering up for destruction, or extending mercy—did not diminish at the door of personal sacrifice. He was the Lord’s prophet, accustomed to knowing God’s mind and will for the people before the events took place. He had pledged faithful service and determined to get to the end of his service with his integrity in tact. After all, the message he delivered would be compromised by a lesser commitment.
The people prized the temple and its activity over the Lord Himself, and God was preparing to strip it away from them. Their lack of regard for His holiness flew in the face of His jealous claim on the whole heart of the people.
In what ways do we demonstrate this same carelessness? What gives you greater delight—loyalty to a program, an institution, a promotion, or obedience to God? God has not asked for the sacrifice of the family or called for slackness on the job as demonstration of commitment to Him. God took Ezekiel’s wife as a sign of the reverence and obedience He required of His people. God wants the acknowledged, preeminent position in each of our lives.
// Points to Ponder
Over the next week, here are 3 points to ponder during your personal time of reflection or with a small group or mentor.
- First, is there “a delight” in your life that surpasses your reverence for God?
- Second, has the work of your hands become your sanctuary, full of pride and desire?
- Third, are you able to let go of the temporal for the eternal good God wants to perform through you?
// About the Narrator
An Army ROTC grad from Tennessee Tech University, serving both on active duty and in the reserves, Lucy is a retired U.S. Army Reserve LTC and works for the Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY. She and her husband, Greg, are OCF Associate Field Staff for ROTC and are involved with local OCF Bible Studies on the local college campus and at Fort Campbell. Lucy accepted Christ as Savior in high school and is growing to let Him be Lord in every area of life.
// Purchase a Copy
Call the OCF Home Office at 800-424-1984 to purchase a paperback copy of the book, or buy a Kindle version at Amazon.