Daily Devotions - Follow Jesus

Proverbs 28:1-14 (NIV)
28 The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. 3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. 4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. 5 Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. 6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse. 7 A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. 8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. 9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. 10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. 11 The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. 13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

 

Ruling and leading occur a lot in this chapter, Who is it that you are following or obeying?

 

Lord, You are the ruler of heaven and of earth. There will come a day that justice will prevail when all will come before Your throne and kneel at Your feet. But while we are in this world, we are subjected to many leaders and rulers. There are some leaders who care for the people they shepherd and work hard to help them grow, keep them safe, and follow Your laws. There are others who are focused on personal power and gain at the expense of others. The type of leaders that take an evil path will eventually fall into their own trap. But I stand firm in my faith, obedience, and loyalty to my true King, no matter who it is that is in a leadership role in any area of my life. Evildoers do not understand what is right but those who seek You understand it fully. You lead me to be kind to others, to forgive those who treat me unfairly, and to be bold in my faith. You lead me to honor private rules and public laws, respect others, help the needy, and love every other person as I love myself. I pray that you can help me lead others who do not know You as Lord to find Your path and encourage those who do know You to have faith and stand firm in their trust for You. Let me be honest, relaxed, confident, and as bold as a lion in my faith. I pray that Your hand is on my life, my family, my job, my church, my county, my state, and my country. Please raise up honest and trustworthy leaders in all these areas. I pray that You guide us, protect us, comfort us, and give us Your peace until the day that You come to take us to Your everlasting kingdom. You are my only King and I follow only You. I look forward to kneeling at Your throne and worshiping You for eternity. Amen