Leadership 03

E.M. Bounds in his classic little book Power Through Prayer said, “Men are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.” God is on the search for people He can use to raise up as leaders in their world. Ezekiel 22:30 says, “I (God) looked in vain for anyone who would build again the wall of righteousness that guards the land, who could stand in the gap but I FOUND NO ONE.” What a sad evaluation when God looks and looks but no one was willing… no one had the substance of character… no “better men” were found to lead in Israel of Ezekiel’s day.

What about today? Leadership, we find, has far more to do with the inner person than external appearance, ability or images of success as the world marks leadership. God is looking throughout the land at HEARTS… not resumes. There are brilliant people, wonderful minds, beautiful individuals, who are hollow as chocolate Easter rabbits on the inside. These are people who though talented could not stand up to the pressures that will be brought against any person who would be used by God to make a difference in their world. They may know better methods… but they are not better people.

God is looking for people… people prepared not by institutions of education or elected by the masses but people tried as though by fire. The crisis of leadership we see today is a crisis of character… we are not putting better people in places of leadership in our institutions, our churches and our nation.

What the world needs now… what the church needs now… what our homes need now… are not more effective ways of building an economy or building attendance or managing our children. What we need today are people who will do what God looked for in Ezekiel…”build the wall of righteousness that guards the land….” And when we find them, our world will change.


FOR MEMORIZATION: The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.                   2 Chronicles 16:9a

FOR REFLECTION: Think again about a person you know who is an effective leader. If they are still living, say a prayer for them now that God will continue to inwardly strengthen their hearts. If they are no longer with us, say a prayer of thanks to God for their influence on you.

 

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