READING: 1 Kings 1-2
If your church is going through a leadership transition, how is your congregation guarding against the enemy’s attacks?
Today’s reading pushes us to consider these questions. King David was about to die. He could barely stay warm. He seemingly was not involved in the day-to-day leadership of the kingdom. He had already sworn that Solomon would follow him on the throne (1 Kings 1:17), but Adonijah had determined that he instead would be the king (1 Kings 1:5). It was the intervention of the prophet Nathan that prevented Adonijah’s ascension and, at least from a human perspective, resulted in Solomon’s rise to the throne.
We learn first from this text that leadership succession can be messy, even when there is a plan. Here, I think primarily of pastoral succession in a church. Any time a church is without a leader, even for a brief time, somebody fills that leadership void. Sometimes it’s the right person, but sometimes it’s not. Succession that is not covered in prayer and governed by wisdom can be problematic, especially when somebody wrongly wants to take the role.
Second, it’s not uncommon that leadership change results in turmoil. You would wish that a church could go through a leadership transition while keeping everyone on board, but that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes people against the previous leader make themselves known when that leader is on his way out. Others rebel against the new leader. Succession and transition can be difficult.
Finally, all of us are wise to follow David’s words to Solomon, the next leader in the line: “Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn” (1 Kings 2:2-3). Godly leaders who step into a new role of leadership follow an old-fashioned pattern: they are obedient to God.
ACTION STEPS:
- Think of a church that you know is in the midst of leadership transition. Pray for the current and new leaders. Pray that Satan will not win during the transition.
- Even though you may not know names, pray for church pastors and staff members who are beginning to sense that Lord is calling them toward a transition. Pray especially for those who are moving toward retirement, and giving up their current role will not be easy.
PRAYER: “God, be with leaders (especially those I know) in the midst of transition. Grant them wisdom, direction, and courage. I also pray for ___________ Church going through leadership change now. Keep the enemy from winning.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Kings 3-5
