REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional Thought—first posted on June 2, 2015—is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI, who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).
Devotional Thought for Today
“The Right Leadership”
2 Samuel 23:3-4
The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: “When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, 4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.”
Like many churches, our church collected a love offering for relief efforts in Nepal. However, giving to Nepal presented more challenges than other relief efforts I have been associated with. For places like Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, New York/New Jersey, we would give to organizations like the Salvation Army or Samaritan’s Purse and feel relatively good that the majority of the money would be used to help people who needed it, even if we did not totally back the ideologies of these organizations. However, in Nepal there was a legitimate concern that any donated money would line the pockets of some unscrupulous government officials. So we had to find smaller, more discreet places to give.
As I thought of government and the general mistrust of it (not only in Nepal, but in this country too), I couldn’t help but to marvel at how appropriate and accurate God’s word is on the subject. I long for leadership and a system that acts with righteousness and a fear of God. I do not want to get too political, but imagine how much better issues like poverty, education, healthcare, etc. would be if everyone did what was right, as opposed to what would get the most votes or satisfy special interest groups. It could be as glorious as the sunrise on a clear day or as refreshing as a rainstorm after a long drought.
The application for today is to pray—pray for our country and our leaders. Pray that they would make difficult decisions that are right and wise. If you are cynical, ask the Lord to give you real hope. Pray also how you might get involved in serving your community. You may not change the world, but you can make a difference in someone’s life.
Prayer: Lord, we pray for the leaders of this country. May they make policies and laws that are right and wise. Give me the heart of Samuel who considered it a sin to fail to pray for Saul (1 Sam. 12:23).
Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 18
Lunch Break Study
Read Revelation 20:1-6: And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Questions to Consider
This text concerns the millennium, a period of a thousand years where Christ will reign on the earth and Satan will be bound and unable to work on the earth. For the purposes of this QT, let’s assume you believe in a literal millennium.
- What do you suppose a world run by Christ would look like, even if fallen man inhabited it?
- Why do you suppose that those who were beheaded and those who did not worship the beast are specifically mentioned as raised and reigning with Christ?
- What purpose do you suppose there is for a millennium?
Notes
- In my mind, I could see a utopian society, where everything functions as it should. Government programs would help rich and poor alike (if we have classes), and they would be effective. Healthcare would work well; it would be reasonably priced, and all people would get correct treatment (maybe this is why there will be longer life spans). We’d never question the integrity of our leaders because Christ is in charge.
- Christ, in His goodness, will reward those who were faithful—especially, those who were faithful during the great tribulation will get the honor of ruling with Christ.
- I would guess that a millennium would show, among many things, Christ’s goodness and how things were “supposed” to be on earth.
Evening Reflection
Did you spend any time thinking about what Christ had in mind for his world? Did you pray for our country (and world) and those running it? Do you want to be less cynical and more hopeful?