One reason leadership is so important

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Judges 21:1–Ruth 1:22 
John 4:4-42 
Psalm 105:1-15 
Proverbs 14:25

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse to Today is an important one in the book of Judges. In three other places in this biblical book (17:6; 18:1; 19:1), it says that there were no king. In one of those references (17:6), it says, word-for-word, the same thing as today's verse.

So, the Lord through the writer of Judges wants us to realize that there was no king in Israel and the people, therefore, made up their own rules and did as they pleased.

There is a powerful principle here. We come to realize that leadership is what God has ordained to set the tone for those under their influence. The leaders, by their words and actions, make it clear what is right and wrong. Absent of leadership, people make up their own rules and oftentimes it doesn't go well.

So, what actions must we take as a result of reflecting on this verse? Let me provide two:

1) Pray for your leaders.
Whether it is a national leader, our local officials, your pastor, your parent(s), your boss, or whoever else it might be, pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Pray that they would live and lead righteously.

2) Follow your leaders.
Believing that those in positions of leadership are set there by God, we follow them (Romans 13:1-7). Those in spiritual authority are ultimately responsible for your eternal well-being so obey and submit to them (Hebrews 13:7).

Leadership (as it was intended by God) is what the Lord uses to create an environment that is healthy, moral, and productive for those under their influence. So, pray for them and follow them.