Leadership rules!

March 6, 2007

By Greg Ebie

The old saying goes, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” From time to time I’ve been nervous about leaving our kids at home alone. Why? I’m not concerned about other people hurting them; I worry more about what they might do with their new “freedom.” It’s like leaving the mice to guard the cheese house.

I remember what it was like when I was a teenager and Mom and Dad would leave us at home alone. Let’s just say we played by a different set of rules because the parental authority was absent. Can my kids be much different?

“In those days there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing” (Judges 17:6, The Message).

The nation of Israel was not following the covenant God had established with them through Moses. They disregarded God’s laws because they were ignorant of what God had told them. God had instructed Israel to set up judges after they had taken possession of the land. These judges would lead the people according to the guidelines of the covenant. Israel never followed God’s simple instruction about leadership.

Throughout the Book of Judges it is God who selects individuals to lead the nation and provide deliverance from their enemies. But that was only a temporary fix. Again and again the people returned to doing what seemed right in their own eyes. With no one to lead them they rebelled against God’s authority.

The days in which we live are much the same. A two-word bumper sticker describes America today: “Question Authority.” That’s another way of saying do whatever you feel like … just don’t get caught!

The Bible tells Christians to submit to every authority, even those we don’t agree with. Why? We may disagree with our parents, teachers, the boss, the government (the list could go on and on), but whenever we rebel against authority it’s another step toward rebelling against God.

God has placed His Spirit within our hearts to lead and guide us in everything we do and say. Let’s make it our desire to live in obedience to God; He is our ultimate authority!

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.