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Hello my ‘Walking with Jesus” friends,
Today’s front page news in every city of the world is the US election results and the response from all around the world. Central to all this is something we need to consider today which affects you and me no matter where we live in the world. It’s the matter of justice and integrity in decision making, especially when those decisions affect other people. How has justice and integrity been at work in this remarkable vote tabulating process in the US? As we’ve seen recently one of the key roles of the US President is the appointment of judges at the Federal courts level and also nomination for the US Supreme Court.
This week that US Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an interesting case. It is described as: “Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is a case about whether or not a city can prevent a religious group that does not place foster children with same-sex couples from participating in that city’s foster care program .” Do you remember the newest Supreme Court Justice, Amy Coney Barrett is a Christian woman, wife, mother, and with her husband they have adopted two Haitian born orphans! Now, within a few days of her appointment as a Supreme Court Justice, she is thrust into hearing a case which is directly related to her personal life and her religious values! Suddenly justice and integrity are front and center for her, as they are for millions of people all across America as we all wrestle with the election results.
In recent weeks I’ve been drawing us into God’s Word, specifically the time of the kings of Israel, to learn important LEADERSHIP lessons. They have been so appropriate to the journey our world has been walking with the COVID-19 pandemic; the American elections; terrorist violence in France and much more. Today let’s look at 2 Chronicles 19 and the continuing story of king Jehoshaphat. As the national leader Jehoshaphat evidently took seriously his privilege to do what President Trump just recently did… the appointment of Judges. “King Jehoshaphat appointed judges in the land in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” (2 Chronicles 19:4-7)
I wonder how closely that mandate compares to how judges all across the land where you live, view the importance of justice and integrity as they fulfill their jobs and shape the society where you live? Now ponder this a moment. Every day, perhaps several times each day, you and I face situations that call us to make decisions. All types of decisions. Many of those decisions affect other people. I’m asking you to consider this question: What pattern have you developed in your lifetime regarding your decision making?
The truth is most people make decisions based on what choice will most benefit themselves, their reputation. The question of what is most God honoring when making a decision, is often NOT the priority. But think of how different our world would be if every decision every person made, especially people in any leadership role, was calculated on the basis of the instructions king Jehoshaphat gave the judges he appointed!
Do you see king Jehoshaphat urged the judges to hear cases with “…the fear of the LORD upon you.”! Do you remember king Solomon, the wisest of all the kings, had written: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…turn your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding…then you will know the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom and from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding…Then you will know what is right and just and fair…” (Proverbs 1:7; 2:2,5,6,9)
Are you and I living our lives with a deep respect for Holy God and His Holy ways? Do we know the history of God’s dealing with humanity well enough that we live with a fear of the LORD and His just judgement against wickedness? Is the wisdom you and I use to guide our lives and especially our decisions, a wisdom we’ve received from God and does this God given wisdom lead us to ‘“…know what is right and just and fair”? Finally, do your decisions and mine reflect what Jesus would do if He was making the decision? Remember how Jesus was always intent on living His life in obedience to what He was confident God the Father wanted Him to do?
As we continue reading in 2 Chronicles 19, you’ll see king Jehoshaphat appointed other leaders in Jerusalem with a similar challenge “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD…you are to warn the people not to sin against the LORD, otherwise His wrath will come upon you and your people.’(2 Chron. 19:9,10) Mmmmm… As you evaluate the leadership of all those people in any leadership roles where you live… business leaders, education leaders, healthcare leaders, community leaders, church leaders, political leaders, law enforcement leaders… how closely does their leadership style and decision making pattern reflect Jehoshaphat’s instructions to the leaders that he appointed? If you’re in any leadership role, does this reflect how you lead?
Finally king Jehoshaphat says “Act with courage, and may the LORD be with those who do well.” What a great statement for all of us, as we each face decision making situations everyday. Neither the people nor king Jehoshaphat knew that this mandate of leadership with integrity, was very soon going to be tested to the ultimate extreme. We’ll look at that remarkable event tomorrow.
But the truth is neither you nor I know what these next weeks will hold as our world reacts to the results of the American election; a continuing rise in COVID confirmed cases especially in Europe and North America; a volatile global economy facing nationwide shut-downs in some places; the approach of winter, and a holiday season unlike any other in recent history. In the face of all this uncertainty, how would you describe the mandate of justice and integrity you feel God has called you to live out as you walk with Jesus in your part of the world? And what if you don’t?
Do you see my friends, this is one of the key ways you and I can make a big difference in our world. I’m asking you to read 2 Chronicles 19 carefully and then write in your journal a personal statement which reflects the mandate for justice and integrity you sense God is giving you to guide you for the rest of your life!
To help you in your reflection, I’ve found a good song with some young people contemplating ‘tomorrow’ and celebrating their confidence that while they don’t know what tomorrow holds, they know WHO holds tomorrow! Oh my friends, let’s celebrate that God reigns Sovereign and Supreme over everything today!
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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