Today let us begin with a prayer that the ceasefire in the Middle East holds.

LORD God, your "words are not just idle words, they are our life." As we read your Word, we see clearly that you rule the nations. Thank you for bringing us the hope that bloodshed and destruction will end in the Middle East. May it be your will that this ceasefire grows into a lasting and sustaining peace. We pray also that you would grant us to see an end to the war in Ukraine. Our world is not in the hands of powerful world leaders... our world is in your hands. Let your will be done for we trust you, LORD. Amen. 



Every generation faces its own challenges.

Our God always provides his church with the leaders each generation needs.

You can see that in Acts 11:19-12:4. The work is more than Barnabas can do. Barnabas pauses his busy church work to take a trip from Antioch to Tarsus to recruit another worker. As a result of that recruitment trip, the Lord provides another worker: Saul, who will later be called the Apostle Paul.

The Apostle James is put to death; yet the Church grows and flourishes in spite of persecution. The Lord of the Church provided new leaders for God's people. 

A Leader for the Next Generation

In Deuteronomy 31 & 32 , God raises up Joshua to succeed Moses and gives him a promise that has encouraged and comforted church leaders for generations: The LORD will be with you. 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

The reading closes with Moses’ sad song of warning. How quickly people can lose their connection with their Savior God. The greatest challenge God’s people face is not war or inflation or sickness or even death. The greatest challenge is that we lose our connection with our Savior God.
 
Prayer

Lord Jesus, give your Church the leaders it needs.

Lord Jesus, give St. Paul's the workers we need: teachers, pastors, staff ministers, volunteers.

Lord Jesus, give us spiritual leaders in our homes, dads and moms who serve as pastors of their Family Churches.

Give us leaders in all our churches to lead us through the challenges your church faces. Give them wisdom to lead wisely and well. Use them to lead us ever closer to You. Amen.