PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Mar
16
16
Passing the Baton
Craig Peterson
Scripture
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 7Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. 8The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Observation
Before he died, before he gave up his position of leadership, Moses instructs the people of Israel and then Joshua, their next leader. Moses reminds the people that God is their strength and of the mighty miracles He has done to sustain them and build up their nation. He then looks to Joshua. He reminds him of God’s mighty acts. He reiterates God’s hand on Joshua’s leadership. Finally, he reminds Joshua that the Lord is the one who goes ahead and He will not fail.
Application
When we leave a position of leadership, being called on or a season simply coming to an end, we always want to leave things well. We work to set up the next leader for success. Moses gives us a great example of how to do this. He set up systems to help the people succeed based upon God’s commands and directions. He left memorial reminders of God’s faithfulness. He addressed the people, reminding them of what they had gone through and what they had accomplished, by the grace and strength of God. Then, He gives the new leader his charge. He reminds the new leader that he is capable and chosen by God. But, most importantly, he reminds the new leader that God is his strength. God goes before him. And, God will never fail him. Moses sets Joshua up for success if He will follow Moses’ instruction.
Prayer
Lord, I know I am serving in a new role, but help me to never seek to simply succeed now. Help me to set up systems that will succeed in your church whether or not I am in the picture. Help me to build teams to carry on ministry so ministry will succeed with or without me. Help me to never forget that you go before and your will never fail us. Help me to always be communicating dependence on you, so that dependence on you is central to our mission, with or without me.
