April 09, 2016
God loves His people. One of the greatest evidences is His care. And one of the greatest signs of His care is how He has led His people through godly leaders since time began. When those leaders listen to Him and follow Him, His people prosper.
He also chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds. From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands. (Psalm 78:70-72)
GOD'S CHOICE
God expressly chose a leader with shepherding experience. David knew how to be shepherded by God (""The Lord is my Shepherd..."") and how to shepherd others, because of the routine, hillside training God had given him.
He learned how to operate both vertically and horizontally.
When a man humbly lives under God’s rule and then leads others out of that direction, God literally has a straight line to lead His children through His appointed shepherd.
THE INTEGRITY OF HIS HEART
Integrity means ""soundness."" A building has structural integrity when there are no weak spots.
When God looked for a leader for His people, He wanted a ""man after (my) own heart."" He found it in David. This was (and is) the most important ingredient: a heart solely devoted to God and His purposes. No self-centered agenda that could be exploited by the Enemy.
Saul had not been such a leader and the results were disastrous. The contrast between these two leaders is a stunning lesson for us all.
At the end of his life, David fell—proving the best men are not above the enemy’s attack. But David led for decades with integrity because he had a heart to listen and lead from God-initiation.
SKILLFUL HANDS
Not only did David have godly character, but also tremendous leadership abilities. Heart alone is not enough in the best of leaders. He must have some skill level, and this can be learned by anyone God chooses.
If you are called by God to lead and feel inadequate, don’t worry. Whom He calls He will equip, if that leader is willing to learn.
Leaders will face giants of challenge that can defeat or develop. These are the greatest classrooms. A wise leader knows his limitations, turns in dependency to God, and increasingly studies how to improve his leadership quotient.
A leader with a surrendered heart and skillful hands is a mighty tool in the hands of a loving and powerful God. And God’s people and kingdom are the beneficiaries.
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