THINK TOGETHER.
Parents, do you vote? How do you decide who to vote for?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 28:12. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
This proverb is about the difference between righteous and wicked rulers. In The Old Testament times rulers were kings and sometimes queens. They weren’t voted on like they are in America and other countries.
We all want a righteous ruler over us and not a wicked one, don’t we? Maybe mom and dad don’t call rulers “righteous” and “wicked,” but I’m sure they vote based on who they think will do good things instead of bad things. Whether it is our team captain, teachers, pastors, a boss, police officers, politicians, we want someone who is willing to be a kind servant to be in charge, and not someone who is going to be mean and selfish. We might even actually hide ourselves from bad leaders in some way. Quit the team. Change jobs or churches. Stop participating.
If you ever get the chance to be a leader pray to God that you might be a righteous and not a wicked one. What is a righteous leader? One that uses the position they have to help others and not themselves. The Bible says that the kings of Israel were supposed to be like shepherds, like King David was. A shepherd loves their sheep, and takes care of their sheep. A good shepherd will lay down his life for their sheep.
That’s what Jesus said, and that’s what Jesus did. He is the ruler of the whole universe, and yet he laid down his life for us on the cross so that we might be righteous like he is. He took the punishment for our wicked selfishness in our place, and replaced it with his own love for others. Now, with Jesus in our hearts, we can all be righteous leaders no matter where we are.
Because of Jesus we have a ruler over us that is always righteous – HIM!
With Jesus we can lead others in righteousness instead of selfish wickedness.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Make a list together of some of the leaders that rule over your child’s life (teachers, pastors, coaches, government rulers). Pray for them together that they might lead righteously and not wickedly.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, keep our rulers from wickedness and help them to be righteous. Help me too to lead others in your path of kindness and grace. Amen.
TLICfamily 