READING:
One-year plan: 1 Samuel 11-14
Two-year plan: Psalms 30-31, Romans 5:6-21
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“As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way” (1 Sam 12:23).
Though these words are the words of the prophet Samuel, they reflect, for me, much of the work of a pastor and church leader. On one hand, our responsibility is to pray for the people we lead. As one writer has put it, Samuel takes “his rightful place among such giants of intercession as Moses (Exod 32:30–32), Daniel (Dan 9:4–20), Paul (Rom 1:9–10; Col 1:9; 1 Thess 3:10; 2 Tim 1:3), and Jesus (Isa 53:12; Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25).”* We may never reach the “giant” level of these men, but it’s still our responsibility to intercede for God’s people.
At the same time, we are to teach our people the good and right way. That is to say, instruction that includes both information and application is a significant part of our work. Even as Samuel is faithful to carry out his role, he calls the people of God to be faithful and obedient to their calling—and we who lead God’s congregations are to do the same today.
My concern is this today: I fear we rightly focus on instruction, but we sometimes fail to pray for God’s people as Samuel described. We miss the point that it is sinful not to pray for the people we lead.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: For whom are you regularly praying?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, thank You for those who have led me over the years. Help me to teach and pray well.”
MONDAY’S READINGS:
One-year plan: 1 Samuel 15-17
Two-year plan: Psalms 32-34, Romans 6
MEMORIZATION VERSE (March 16-31):
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col 3:17)
*Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 650). Zondervan Publishing House.
