Unstoppable! 'A Violent Leader is Feared, Not Followed' — Acts 7:23-28

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Your Support Matters!

Your donations are vital to help us keep the light shining.

 Donate Now
[Stephen continued his defense before the council:] "One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man's defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn't.

"The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. 'Men,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?'

"But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. 'Who made you a ruler and judge over us?' he asked. 'Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?'"

— Acts 7:23-28 NLT

Key Thought

Moses wanted to help his Israelite people when he left Pharaoh's palace to visit them. Unfortunately, his anger led him to kill an Egyptian oppressor. His eruption of violence spread among his fellow Israelites. However, it did not inspire trust in Moses as their deliverer. Moses had to spend forty years in the wilderness in his own kind of exile (Acts 7:29-30). Even then, when he returned to deliver the Israelites, he needed to display the power and approval of God before they would follow him. Leaders can't lead very long by pushing, ordering, or inspiring fear. Followers need to know that their leaders understand their struggles. God's people also want assurance that their leaders have the blessing and power of God supporting them. We should settle for nothing less as both followers and leaders!

Today's Prayer

Father, my heart is touched. Moses cared about the plight of his enslaved people even though he lived as a prince in Pharaoh's palace. He had so much to lose but risked it all to deliver your people. I realize from Moses' story that authentic leadership can't be rooted in abusing power, especially not in violent use of power. Leaders of your people must have the aroma of your faithfulness, character, and compassion. I want to be this kind of person, whether I lead or follow. I invite the Holy Spirit to continue transforming me into the person you can use as either a follower or a leader. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Mark 9:35-37; Luke 22:24-27
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, April 6, 2024

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Galatians 4:6-7
"Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but God’s..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Resurrection Power'
"Dear Disciple, The apostle Paul prayed a meaningful and moving prayer for the Christians in Asia Minor. Here is part of his prayer:I pray that your....."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Hebrews 13:13
"Jesus, bearing his cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian's reason for leaving the camp of the world's sin and religion is not..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Released!' (Ro. 7:6)
"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written..."

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 7:23-28 NLT — [Stephen continued his defense before the council:] "One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man's defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn't. "The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. 'Men,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?' "But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. 'Who made you a ruler and judge over us?' he asked. 'Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?'"

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Unstoppable!