"Spiritual Leadership: Essential!"

Scripture Passage

2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 2 Kings 11:4-12; 2 Chronicles 23:1-11; 2 Kings 11:13-16; 2 Chronicles 23:12-15; 2 Kings 11:17-21; 2 Chronicles 23:16-21; 2 Kings 12:1-16; 2 Chronicles 24:1-22; 2 Kings 10:32-36

Scripture Focus

But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 24:17-18 NLT)

Observation

Spiritual leadership is essential for every life.

Today’s reading contains the astonishing story of a seven-year-old king, Joash. As a baby, Joash had been safely tucked away when the rest of his siblings (potential heirs to the throne) were murdered by a power-hungry queen mother, Athaliah. At the age of seven, Joash’s existence was revealed, and he was (rightfully) proclaimed king in an effort spearheaded by Jehoiada the priest.

Under Jehoiada’s tutelage, Joash led wonderful reforms in Judah. The covenant was renewed, the temple repaired, and spiritual fervor restored to levels not seen since the days of Jehoshaphat. “But after Jehoiada’s death,” the Bible says…

…the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 24:17-18 NLT)

I think I have some understanding of how difficult it must be to stay connected to spiritual overseers. (I say that recognizing that my whole life is centered on spiritual leadership, which puts me on a little different track than most people.) I do understand how pressing life can be in other ways and places…how difficult it can become to maintain the spiritual discipline of connection to the body of Christ…even how frustrating it can be to be led by imperfect leaders. All of that gets trumped, however, by how scattered, disconnected, and damaged lives become when spiritual leadership—however difficult or imperfect—is discarded. People who once held Christ as their first love and served Christ with passionate hearts can become so indifferent and apathetic—a place at which they themselves would never imagine arriving.

Of course, I must recognize that I need spiritual leadership in my life as much as anyone. “Help me, Father, to keep myself under the leadership of those you’ve placed over me in Christ!”