Morning Moments

Acts 10:14 (KJV)
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

One of the great dangers of leadership is to select or influence the selection of people who will never say “not so” to you. They are called “yes men”, and can be a real danger to good leadership.

Our text is not the only time we find resistance in a disciple. There were times when there was reluctance to believe, skepticism, doubt and refusal. But Jesus did not reject them simply because they could not “see” where He was going or understand what He was saying. To be sure, Jesus was never wrong but he never dismissed those apostles who were wrong from time to time.

Let's be honest, there are time in our walk with Him that we do the same thing. He leads one way and we think the other is better. He lets Lazarus die, leaving us in bewilderment, because He knows that God will be best glorified if everyone is sure Lazarus is dead before he is raised. Certainly the apostles did not see that at the time.

Faith means I follow in obedience whether or not I understand at the time. Remember, we no “in part”, but He knows the whole. Even when we will not express our skepticism, doubt, disagreement, or reluctance, He knows all about it.

Israel could have initially entered the Promised Land in eleven days journey, but God lead them around Mt. Sinai for 40 years. There is purpose is delay. There is reason in God's not doing what we think He should do when we think He should do it.

Peter prided himself in our text of being a faithful Jew, but almost missed the greatest opportunity of His ministry. God knew, however, that Peter would see what he could not see at the time. Paul said, “Because I tell you the truth do I become your enemy?”

You are I, as leaders are not always right. The Lord is, but WE ARE NOT! To help us, God places those under our leadership who sometimes show reluctance or resistance, but we should not reject them. THEY MAY BE WRONG, but they may be right and saved our hide. If there is no Biblical principle at stake, we may indeed disagree, but where Scripture speaks, we should not seek to wiggle around it to justify our own way.

I remember the '50s philosophy among some that said, “a church in the red is going ahead, but a church in the black is going back.” That was a Satanic deception then, and still is today. Regardless of the super churches who borrow untold millions in violation of the Word of God by leaning on human reasoning.

Again, Jesus was never wrong. We are, and to help keep us on track and target, God places those in our lives and churches who will help us most not by agreeing but by disagreeing with the right spirit.

“NOT SO, LORD” may be a contradiction in terms for us with HIM, but “not so, pastor” may be just the thing for us. We have two large churches in our area that are splitting because one Pastor is stuck on Reform Theology and another on Pastoral Authority. God says “Woe be unto you pastors that destroy and scatter my sheep.” We may disagree. We may even have to ask wolves to depart, but we must not destroy and scatter the sheep in the process. Young Pastors, pay attention to the words of this old man. Love the sheep, feed the sheep, protect the sheep, guide the sheep, and maybe rarely shear the sheep, BUT DO NOT SKIN THEM! Selah.

BLESSINGS!