Mark Schultz sings "I Am." The song is from the perspective of God. "I am the One Who walked on water. I Am the One Who calmed the seas. I Am the miracles and wonders. So come and see, and follow Me. You will know. I Am the fount of living water, the risen Son of Man, the Healer of the broken. And when you cry, I Am your Savior and Redeemer, Who bore the sins of man; the Author and Perfecter; beginning and the end. I Am!"
The central Scripture for tonight is 2 Chronicles 26:5, 16: "He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success...But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense." (NIV)
John Maxwell says, "The choices we make nearly always reflect our true character." Keep that in mind as you go about your leadership endeavors.
Uzziah's reign began strong because he put God first and followed Him. In the New Testament, Jesus said, "'But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.'" (Matthew 6:33, NIV) Both the Old and New Testaments say that God is to be above all else. When we put Him before everything else, those other things fall into place.
Despite his strong start, Uzziah became self-centered and no longer put God first. As a result, his reign ended badly. He neglected the One Who gave him his successes and therefore suffered the penalty. The Bible gives many examples of what happens to those leaders who failed to follow the Lord.
We must remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33. God must come first. That is not optional if we want to be led by Him and enjoy His blessing on our lives. We have to remember that our leadership abilities were given to us by God, the Ultimate Leader.
The first and greatest commandment, spoken by Jesus Himself, is, "'"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."'" After that, the second greatest commandment is, "'"Love your neighbor as yourself."'" (Matthew 22:37-38, NIV)
There is a pattern in all of this: God first, then other things. It is critical to get that right. And that's not just for leaders, but for everyone.
Maxwell asks, "Examine your leadership--are you overstepping any lines?"
Think about that. If you feel that you are overstepping your role, pray that the Lord guide you so that you can correct the matter. Even if you are not overstepping, still ask Him to lead you. Pray something like this: "Father, please help me to put You first at all times. Forgive me for failing at that when I have done so, and forgive me for all of my other sins as well. Please lead me so that I can effectively lead others. Thank You for never leaving me nor forsaking me! I love you! In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."
God bless you!
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