Just Leaders

"You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you." -Deuteronomy 16.18-20

When the people settle in the land they are to appoint leaders in each town that will be focused on righteous judgment. They will not distort justice in favor of the rich or the poor. They will not allow themselves to be bought off, but will simply focus on what the right thing to do is. This type of leadership will allow them to live and possess the Promised Land.

Righteous justice is an essential characteristic of a leader. It is about doing what is right, always. This type of leader is one that everyone can trust. They know that he will not side with someone simply because of their status, but because of what is just. This type of leader has impeccable character that stand firm at all times. This is the type of leader every man should strive to be.

Men, are you a leader who refuses to distort justice? It does not have to be on a large scale, in your families, do you show partiality? Is there one child that always gets away with everything? Maybe it is on a large scale, do you refuse to compromise on what is right, or are you willing to overlook some things to get ahead? What kind of leader do you want? What kind of leader will you strive to be? What kind of example will you set for those who follow you, be it children, people you mentor, or even random strangers who work under you?

Let us be just leaders who value righteous justice above all else. May we never compromise on doing what is right. May we be men who pursue only justice.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

What We've Been Given

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." -Deuteronomy 16.17

When the men appeared before God for the three feasts they were not to come open handed. But God doesn't demand that everyone give a certain amount, everyone is to give as they are able. God blesses people, and it is from the blessings of God that they are to give back to Him.

God does not expect us to give Him what we do not have. But what we have been blessed with we are to use for Him. God blesses us with the ability to work and earn an income, so we give part of it back to Him. God blesses us with talents and abilities, and so we use them for His glory and to build His Kingdom.

Men, are you giving to God as you are able? Are you offering what He has given you for His service? God does not expect you to use gifts you do not have. But what He has given you, you need to offer back to Him.

Let us give what we are able. Let us seek to bless God as He has blessed us. Let us give back from what we've been given.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

As a Family

"and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name... and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns." -Deuteronomy 16.11, 14

There were three yearly feasts that the nation of Israel was required to celebrate in remembrance of all that God had done. Passover to remember their deliverance from Egypt, the Feast of Weeks to remember the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, and the Feast of Booths to celebrate the harvest. For these three holidays they were to travel to the place God would choose, Jerusalem, and celebrate. Here Moses tells them that they are to celebrate as a family.

It was not simply about celebrating what God had done, but about celebrating as a family. Children were to be included, and invited to share in what God had done. The celebration was about remembering what God had done. It was a chance to praise God, and tell new generations what God had done in the past.

So much of the Pentateuch is about stories of God's works being passed down from father to son. This only happens in the context of a relational family where dad is present and involved. If dad simply goes to work, then sits in front of the TV all night, what is there to inspire his children to follow God? But if dad is involved in their lives, if they know he loves them, and if they see him passionately follow God, and then he invites them to be part of it there is something for them to be drawn to.

Men, what kind of father are you? Are you involved with your family? Do you model a faith in God that inspires them to follow Him? Are you inviting them to celebrate God with you?

Let us set an example for our families, and let us worship and celebrate Him as a family.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor