WHAT IS A TRUE LEADER | Daily Bread | 11-1-24

00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Bible Passage
02:57 - Daily Bread Devotional
04:56 - Prayer

2 Samuel 15:1-12, KV 6
“Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.”

Daily Bread
1) True leadership vs. selfish ambition.
Absalom knew how to develop his image and win the people’s favor. He would get up early, stand in the right spot, and tell people exactly what they wanted to hear. He was charming and persuasive. Verse 6 says, “…he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.” Outwardly, he was convincing as a “man of the people”, but his heart was selfish and power-hungry. What kind of leader do you want to be? Do you care more about your appearance or your inner heart as you lead? Instead of just trying to look like a leader, let’s make sure we focus on developing the godly qualities and character of one. Remember what 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”

2) Absalom’s deceptive worship.
After four years, Absalom came to King David pretending that his trip to Hebron was about fulfilling a vow to worship the Lord, when it was just part of his plan to overthrow David. Absalom believed looking spiritual could work in his favor. Sometimes we make the same mistake. We believe that if we seem spiritual—like if we go to church, pray before meals, or occasionally read the Bible—it means we’re right with God. However, that’s not always true. Matthew 15:8 says, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” When we serve God, we must be careful that our actions don’t become empty, habitual, or driven by the wrong motives. Let’s make sure that every act of worship and service to the Lord comes from our true love and devotion to Him!

Prayer: Dear God, help us to be true leaders who care about others instead of just ourselves. Show us how to worship You sincerely and make sure our actions come from a real love for You, not just outward appearances. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

One Word: Lead others and love God with a sincere heart!




Music:
Theme: Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.
Intro: Inspirational Acoustic - Organic Harmony by Sonican
Outro: My Love Medium by Grand_Project