Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
As leaders we must set an example to those we lead through a life that exhibits faith towards God in all things. This is not just at times when everything appears to be going well. It is especially true when we are enduring challenges and even when we are suffering in life. The peaceable fruit of righteousness comes to those who endure difficulty as an opportunity for manifesting as a son or daughter of God. Chastening is not about right and wrong, it is about staying in the path of life even in the midst of difficulty. This is the chastening that was endured by Jesus to be a manifested son of God in His full state of being a son of man. That chastening was not a matter of correcting Jesus, it was a matter of empowering Him to be revealed for who He really was. He set an example for us to follow as sons and daughters of God in Christ. We must never allow the testing times of our lives to manifest bitterness as was in the life of Esau who exchanged his birthright for food that merely fed his flesh. He failed to see the greatness of the purpose of his life, so he selfishly traded it away for his personal desires. We could do the same if we forget that the reason we go through the testing times of life is to bring greater life to our world and to bring those in our world to greater life. For this reason, the writer of Hebrews instructs us to have strong hands, strong knees, and to make straight paths for our feet.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
How do we keep strong hands, strong knees, and straight paths before our feet? We can find these answers when we consider God in the entirety of His word. There are some key words written in the book of Job in regard to the character of the righteous man Job.
Job 4:3 Surely you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands. 4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees…
If the instructions of a righteous man can strengthen weak hands, the instructions of God’s Spirit can do even more. Our hands are a testimony to what we give to our world. The blessings of being life-givers comes from our ability to bless our world with life. When we trust the instruction of the Holy Spirit in our lives and when we respond to His instructions we will be givers of life to all that we touch. If a righteous man can strengthen the knees of others by his words, how much more can God’s word strengthen our knees? When we stand on God’s word we can overcome all things that seek to cause us to bow our knees to things that are less than truth. I believe God’s instructions are the testimony of His Spirit and God’s words are a testimony of His truth. When the Word and the Spirit come together in our lives we can surely be who we are meant to be for the sake of our sphere of influence in this world.
What about finding the straight path for our feet? I believe the key to our straight path is the manifest presence of God in our lives. It is not about knowing what to do. It is about knowing God in all things. His presence will give us the path of life in all things.
Psalms 16:11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Isaiah 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.
As leaders we must face everything in life for the sake of others. This is not just a testimony of leaders; it is a testimony for us all. Leaders lead to inspire this truth in others. If we follow the instructions of God’s Spirit in every situation of our lives we will be givers of life to our world. If we stand fast on all that God’s has said and is saying in His word we will not bow our knees to compromise to the ways of the world. We will be overcoming sons and daughters of God in all circumstances. If we hold fast God’s manifest presence in our lives we will find the path of life and light before us in every step of our journey in life. These things are attributes of sons and daughters of God in Christ.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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