Beside Still Waters
2 November 2024Wherever possible, Saturdays are quiet, the day I take things easy, spend true quiet time with my Lord, bible in hand, and just be as I catch up with myself.
Today, I am in a gorgeous setting, house sitting a 100-year-old home set in a beautiful garden of huge and ancient trees, where birdsong predominates. The first sound to get me up and running outdoors was the familiar call of the Woodland Kingfisher. This migrant arrives in South Africa in November, and its musical trill announces to the Lowveld that summer has truly arrived. Impala are dropping their young, the first storms have shaken us out of our winter sloth, the colour green predominates.
I recorded a voice note, leaving space for all to hear the call. The first person to receive one from me was Linda, a dear friend now living in Natal, with whom I spent many happy times in the Kruger Park, and the arrival of the Woodlands each year was a call to drop all and rush to Kruger. I miss that, and I miss Linda.
There was a veritable vaudeville act of avian show-offs this morning: Fish eagles, Klaas’s cuckoo, black collared Barbets burbling their duet, the red breasted cuckoo with his chirpy ‘Piet my vrou’, Paradise Fly catchers prrping around, and a silent yellow-bellied sunbird, its back an iridescent green, harvesting a petrea close to where I was sitting.
What a sabbath blessing.
In addition to 24-7 Prayer’s daily devotional Lectio 365, I like to read three pieces from scripture: a psalm, one Old Testament and one New Testament chapter. I don’t always get to read all three each day, but on Saturdays I have the time and space to catch up.
I am deep in Jeremiah, an interesting book at this moment in time, but it was a passage in John 12 that caught my interest. Jesus has refused to meet with a group of Greeks who wanted an audience with Him, because it is close to destiny hour.
Starting with verse 23 Jesus has this to say:
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
24. Most assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
25. he who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26. if anyone serves Me, let him follow Me, and where I am there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.” *
I have a study bible and there is a note inserted here on the meaning of ‘servant’, entitled Leadership Traits, written by Joseph Garlington, Sr., Ph.D. Service in this context is from the Greek word ‘diakonea’, and I quote:
‘In this text, Jesus calls for
- Willingness to die for Him
- Willingness to follow Him
- Willingness to serve Him.
… While the idea of “servant leadership” is a popular and significant concept, a more pivotal and first-essential idea is the “servant-follower”. What personal service has qualified a leader?
In both the OT and NT, authentic ministry presupposes a leader has a record of personal service to someone: servanthood is the time-tested entrance prerequisite for trustworthy ministry. Since God’s Word seems to reveal such service as the basis for any advancement in leadership, we are wise to be cautious if such credentials are not found in a rising leader today.
Examples:
- Moses serves Jethro, caring for his flock (Exodus 3:1)
- Joshua serves Moses as his assistant (Exodus 24:13; Joshua 1;1)
- Elisha succeeds Elijah, having become known as one who “poured water on the hands of Elijah” (2 Kings 3:11)
- David is Saul’s servant and armorbearer before replacing him as king (1Sam 16:21; 17:32)”
End of note.
I had never thought of this before, but it makes total sense. Everyone needs to serve an apprenticeship of sorts to qualify for high office. It is in this training that weaknesses and strengths are exposed, to ensure the best possible leadership for God’s people. Which are all the peoples of the earth, regardless of colour or creed.
Interesting that the Creator, who not only fashioned people and mountains and seas, but the birds that so delighted me this morning, the super Beaver full moon, hazy in the clouds, but visible enough to cast light on the world around me last night, has a protocol for leadership to ensure that we, humans, have the best possible government.
1 Timothy 2:1-4: “…. that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, Godly and dignified in every way.”
But He also allows us to follow our baser natures, and when we do, peace and dignity go out the window.
1 Samuel 8 records the Israelites demanding a king, so they could be like the nations around them. God responds clearly, telling His people what they could expect if they went ahead with their demand. But they were adamant, they wanted their own leader, no matter how unsuitable. Finally, in verse 18 God says:
“And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”
Shabat Shalom.
*New King James Version
New Spirit Filled Life® Bible
©2002 Thomas Nelson, Inc.
