Follow The Loser
It would be like an athlete who has just won gold going up to the loser of the race and saying, "Can I have your coach's number, I'd like him to teach me too."
Deuteronomy 12:1-32
Reference: v.30 …and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same." (NIV Bible)
Explore: As I am currently enrolled in the Arrow leadership course it means that each month I am reading a book on leadership and applying it to my ministry. All of these books are filled with great wisdom. To illustrate such wisdom the books contain many examples of successful churches, businesses or politicians who are applying these leadership qualities to their life. It's not surprising that the authors would use successful people to show their leadership wisdom works. It would be ridiculous, if we wanted to succeed in leadership, to want to follow in the steps of someone who has failed dismally. However, it seems that the Israelites did that quite often. With the help of their God they would conquer a nation, and then they would turn to the gods of the conquered nation and want to follow them as well. It would be like an athlete who has just won gold going up to the loser of the race and saying, "Can I have your coach's number, I'd like him to teach me too."
Application: We follow a God who can do all things and desires the best for us. Why then do we sometimes act like the Israelites and desire to follow someone else? There is no one more powerful than God; there is no one more loving than God; there is no one more just than God. In Him we have all we need, and yet sometimes other things grab our attention and we desire to have them in our lives too – the best job; the most amount of money; the ultimate car; the perfect family. We can spend our lives searching after these things and yet if we are not following God first and foremost then it's just like we are wanting to follow in the loser's footsteps.
Prayer: Help us Lord to always stay focussed on You. Amen.
Is God in the number one position in your life?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.