Daily Reading: Judges 2-3
Scripture Focus: Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them (Judges 2.16)
Devotional Thought: How often we hear things like, "What's this generation coming to?"! That certainly was true in the time of the Judges. The charismatic, foundational leaders of two generations prior - Moses and then Joshua - had "gone the way of the fathers", and the nation languished under the oppression of their enemies. God did not forget his people, but he "raised up judges, who saved them..."
The Lord still raises up judges. One generation moves on into history, and the Lord calls new leaders to take their place. But, do we have any role in the process? I believe we do. Our part in passing on leadership to those whom God raises up is simple. I call it i3.
Invite. This is a critical part of leadership development, even of evangelism and disciple making. We need to prayerfully take the initiative to invite younger (less experienced) people to "spread their wings and fly." Are they going to make mistakes? You bet! We sure did, but God used us in spite of it. Our part of invitation is to choose them, cherish them, and challenge them. Who are you inviting?
Invest. There is more to it than simply inviting. That is hard work, but there is harder work to be done. We must invest in the next generation of leaders. We do this when we intercede for them in prayer, instruct them in Kingdom truth, and introduce them to other leaders and to the Holy Spirit.
Involve. Then comes the risky part. We have to trust them with responsibility, involving them in the work of the Kingdom. To do that, we serve with them, send them to serve, and supervise them in their service.
The Lord raises up judges. Will you take part in the process?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the leaders who came before me. Thank you that they invited me to follow you; that they invested in me and involved me in the work of the Kingdom. Help me to do the same for others whom you are calling today. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 51.7-15
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
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