Marks of a good leader(s)

Studying Malachi 2:1-9 this week it is striking the marks it gives as those of a good priest:

"My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave that them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin."

It is a telling passage to weigh ministry and leadership by.

We need leaders who will lead

Leadership is a big task, it is one we should aspire to but as we have studied Malachi we have been reminded that it is one we should not take lightly. In Malachi the shock is that God says they would be better off shutting the temple doors and stopping all the sacrifices. Basically close the doors of the church and pack up your home group. Why?

Because the leaders do not honour God's name they treat it with contempt. They would never say they do, their words and theology would be orthodox, but their actions are anything but. They allow manky offerings, anything goes, you can bring God your left overs they say to the people and that is exactly what the people do. The contempt of the priests is quickly transferred to the people.

It is a challenge for those of us in leadership how personally am I treating God with contempt? Have I begun to doubt God loves me or that he is almighty? If so I need to deal with it and wrestle with God's word and in prayer before that infects my ministry. Because the attitude and actions of the leaders will be transmitted to the people who follow.

It lays bare all our failings: failings of thought, heart, word and deed. Father forgive, Father remind us, and Father equip us to lead your people we pray.

Living life as worship

Having looked at Malachi 1:6-14 on Sunday there are some questions that it poses for us:

1. Do I rely on the perfect sacrifice of Christ my Saviour or attempt to make my own sacrifices sufficient for salvation?
2. As a response to the love and rescue that God enacts on our behalf in Christ do I live my life for him?
3. Do I treat God with honour or contempt?
4. Do I treat God with reverence or dishonour?
5. Do I offer parts of my life or all of my life?

Does God love us?

That is the question behind so many of our questions. It is at root why we ask why me when it comes to suffering, or where was God on... The question behind it is was God loving me at that point when that happened.

Studying Malachi opens up that whole question as God says to Israel "I have loved you" and they look at their circumstances and say we don't see any evidence of that. Its exactly what we do - we know in our heads that God loves us because of his actions in salvation history and also because his word tells us. But all too often we allow circumstances to overrule that and overawe us so that we end up asking does God love me. What is the antidote -a healthy dose of Malachi which reminds us of God's love in action in salvation history and in Christ and the future that is in store for his people.