Which Leader Do You Trust?

Opening Prayer:

Gracious Father in heaven, we are lost without leaders.  We are wandering, floundering, bumping into things and longing for directions in a complex world.  Worse yet, we sometimes walk off the cliffs our leaders take us to!  Above all powers and thrones, we submit to your leadership first in our lives.  Guide us, direct us we pray, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm 146

Comments:

Who's really in charge here?  Yes, if we have a boss, that boss is in charge of our work area.  If we are the boss, we are in charge of the success or failure of our company.  Yes, the President of the United States is in charge of the Executive Branch of our government and the House and Senate oversee the legislative branch.  But I'm talking about the bigger picture, no, the biggest picture.  Who's really in charge in the universe, over everything that has been and will be created?  Who started everything and who will bring history to it's ultimate destiny? 

Science can't touch this question because it is too big of a question to be contained within the realm of what we can measure with our five senses. This question is the realm of faith.  The Psalmist proclaims that the God of Jacob, the creator of all things, is the only one who is in charge of history's destiny.  This God alone is faithful and trustworthy.  Further in the Bible, Jesus Christ, God made flesh, is acknowledged as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

And what ultimate destiny is God bringing us too?  God is intensly interested in freeing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, and caring for the alien, the fatherless, and the widows.  In the end, God will be sure that they are well-fed, cared for, and have a rather large family to belong to.  As for those who aren't oppressed, hungry, aliens, fatherless, or widows, God is intensly interested in our participation in caring for others in need. 

We are living in times of terrific uncertainty.  We're all looking for leaders to blaze a trail in the wild overgrown jungle we find ourselves in.  The Psalmist says, "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing."  We need great earthly leaders, but more than we need them, we need the One true leader who is trustworthy and who holds a future full of love and justice in his authority. 

These days it's hard to find leaders to trust.  Who do you trust to lead you forward? 

Life Question:

1.  Who do you trust to lead you daily?  Your "gut?" The human leaders around you? 
2.  Who do you trust with your life?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we thank you for showing us in your cross and empty tomb that we not only can trust in your love for us, but we can trust that your power is great enough to overcome all sin and evil.  Forgive us when we cower in fear or when we desperately look for leadership in the wrong places.  Help us keep our eyes and hearts on you.  In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.

Daily Prayer:

Sermons:

Connect To Christian Community