Daily Devotional for Wednesday, August 12

Woe to Oppressive Leaders

“Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage,” Micah 2:1, 2.
In the nation of Israel and in the Lord’s New Testament churches, the Lord places leaders to lead his people into righteousness. The hearts of those who follow the Lord are very important to Him. The Lord desires to lift the burdens and cares that his people experience.
The Lord, through Micah gave a warning to those who are spiritual leaders but used their power to do iniquity. The Lord described an oppressive leader in Micah 2:1, 2. An oppressive leader uses his time contemplating how to perform wickedness, he cannot wait to get an opportunity to practice the evil that he has concocted. He only thinks of how he can profit materially from his wicked plans, an oppressive leader takes joy away from people and ruins families.
This very picture can take place in the Lord’s New Testament churches if a leader or pastor does not follow God’s word. There is a high price to pay for leading God’s people into iniquity, this can be done by teaching heresy, compromising with the world, defending lifestyles that are contrary to God’s word, that is why God gives this warning.
If you are a pastor or a leader in one of the Lord’s churches, spend time in prayer, intake God’s Word daily so you can be ready to practice godliness rather than evil. An oppressive leader forfeits the fruit and spiritual rewards that they can have in the Lord and has no part in the blessings that God has for His churches.

FINAL THOUGHT
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Andrew McClung