today's meditation (2 Chron.27) Leading Effectively

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(2 Chronicles 27:1-9)  Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people continued acting corruptly. 3 He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and he built the wall of Ophel extensively. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that during that year the Ammonites gave him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second year and in the third. 6 So Jotham became powerful because he directed his ways before the Lord his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. 9 And Jotham lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and his son Ahaz became king in his place.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Jotham did okay as a leader in comparison to his father, Uzziah: 

- like his father, in a good way, Jotham followed after God

- unlike his father, in a good way, Jotham remained humble and faithful before God

- but unlike his father, in a bad way, Jotham allowed his people to be corrupt

I don't know why, but I'm thinking back to a sweet lady I used to know.  Her husband had died young, and she was left to support and raise two boys all on her own.  She was faithful and steadfast and strong when it came to following the Lord!  But when it came to instructing and disciplining her sons, she seemed very helpless.  When they acted out, she would just very "lovingly" say, "Boys," and then sit by and watch, with sad eyes.  Although I'm sure she was probably praying.

Praying is awesome and it is one of the things we should do.  But we cannot just pray that the issue fixes itself.  We need to be praying and seeking God to know how to approach the situation, and to know what to do about it.  Especially when we are in charge of anybody.  

Definitely we are to exercise grace, knowing that each person has choices to make, and we cannot control what anybody does or doesn't do.  As leaders, we are to live as an example to follow.  But there are times and situations where we are called to step up and manage, correct, influence and teach.  We should not be afraid to do so, especially when we do so with God's wisdom and strength.