Daily Devotions
Male Spiritual Leadership
Reading for March 14th: Judges 3-5
Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go." And she said, "I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman."
Judges 4:8-9
In Sierra Leone, one of the most contentious question and answer periods we had was over the role of women in the church. The discussion almost got out of control at one point and we simply had to end the session and ask everyone to go home.
The situation in Sierra Leone is not unique. As you may well know, heated debates are going on in our country as well. It is not my intention to present the biblical role of women in the church in this brief devotion.
What I do want to point out is that the problem in Sierra Leone, in the US, and around the world is not a lack of understanding over what the role of women in the church should be. I believe that much of the problem has arisen because of a lack of SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP FROM MEN.
Indeed, one of the questions that was raised in that heated debate in Sierra Leone underscores my point. The question was what are churches to do when the only ones who know the Bible and have very much spiritual maturity and commitment are women?
I completely understand the question. The men have not studied. The men have not shown any spiritual growth in the Lord. The men have not demonstrated any level of commitment or any amount of spiritual leadership that the congregations can follow.
It's a legitimate concern. What do we do about it? Maybe it's time that we as men step up and lead the way God wants us to.
Father, forgive us for our failure as men to be the leaders that you have called us to be. Help us to step up and lead, to study your Word diligently and then serve in your church by teaching your Word both through our words and our actions.
