Devotion 1.7.15

Leadership/Following

Power and the use of power.  Today, during my workout routine at the local gym, several news channels were on, including Fox News, which was covering the challenge to the speakership of the US House of Representatives.  Some conservatives, it seems, believe the current speaker to not be conservative enough and hence a challenge to his leadership.  Conventional wisdom is he will certainly retain his post, but at what cost to the challengers?

Power is derived from two sources:  the perception of power and the use of power (real and perceived).  As I watched the report (wasn't listening to it), I wondered if, during his time in the Senate, a member of the Democratic party would have ever had the notion to challenge LBJ's power?  In today's media driven, blog driven, 24/7 news cycle from a thousand sources, Leader Boehner will have to be careful and use his power judiciously so as not to appear heavy-handed.  But the people who moved against him will probably, over time, pay.  LBJ?  Choice assignments, a deft hand, and another hand left to strangle an opponent with whatever means necessary, no challenges. 

This has always been an interesting subject for me to study for a variety of reasons.  First and foremost, I've never had power to any real degree.  Secondly, it is extremely interesting to watch someone exercise the use of power and mishandle it.  In the ultimate end, they all get whisked away because you either have power or lose it, and the aftermath is mostly sad.

In 1 Kings 3, Solomon is granted by God a request for basically whatever he wants. He responds by saying he would like wisdom (discernment between good and evil).  His request informs us he probably already had wisdom, so he is seeking God's insight, spiritual wisdom.  God grants his request and blesses Solomon with great wealth, power, and wisdom, which, in the end, as with all of  God's servants, he squanders.

Christ comes to earth as man, yet God.  He has great power, knowledge, and wisdom at his access, but he understands his commitment as being obedient to the will of the Father (true wisdom).  In Luke 2, we see the boy Jesus in the temple displaying a great command of the Word.  When his parents inquire of is whereabouts and failure to let them know where he was, he says, "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (2:49)  Christ "had" to be there.  It was his obedience to his Father to be there in his presence.  Our pastor said the word in Greek literally means, "It is necessary for me" to be here. 

Christ's wisdom takes him to the cross out of obedience to the Father.  It is his Father's will.  Pray that we learn that wisdom as well.  What is truly necessary for us as believers in terms of God's will?  Pray for the strength, courage, and wisdom do Christ's will in our lives. 

Peace in Christ

Hope Men's Ministry