There is a constant change of what we call leadership. Whether in our personal lives, religious lives, or work/career lives. I have to ask, how it is do I go about following those that are new as I did with those that come after?
“16And they answered Joshua, ‘All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! 18Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.’” – Joshua 1:16-18 (ESV)
Well the answer is pretty clear in these verses that I should obey the new as I did the one that came before. Joshua took over when Moses passed on. Chosen by God, he was handed the task of leading the people into the promised land. God provided him with all of the tools he needed and he only needed to follow God and use those tools as instructed with courage and strength.
“9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
As he spoke with the leaders of the people, Joshua demonstrated the strength and courage that God expected of him and they followed.
Here is where I have been reminded. When the new are following the same guidelines that God laid out and were used by those that came before them, I am to follow them just the same. I should look for the influence of God and not that of man, and when there is a conflict between the two, the influence of God wins out. My duty is ultimately to God and no man is worthy of my obedience if he is outside the influence of God.
I have to be careful in that I am not taking my own path without the guidance of the Lord. When I am working for the Lord, He is my Leader and therefor all that I set to accomplish is with His guidance and the human before me is of little consequence. I must remember that when I am following the law of God, I am above the law of man.
Obeying the new is easily accomplished when those leaders are doing so in line with the law of God. I should be fully aware of the influence that God has on those new and approach them the same as I did those that came before.
When you look to the new what criteria are you looking for in them as you seek to follow? Are you dismissive of the new as you move forward, looking for failure in them before they even get started? Will you obey the new as you did those that came before?
Trevor's Thoughts 