The Bible records in Acts Chapter 10 that the
Biblical Centurion of Caesarea called Cornelius was a devout man who feared God
alongside his entire household; he also gave alms generously (it is one thing
to give alms and another to give it generously as one can give out of
obligation but generous giving comes from the heart. Additionally, Cornelius
had the wonderful habit of praying to God always.
A leader who prays to God always is simply saying by
that singular action that s/he has no power of his or her own and that s/he is
wholly dependent on God for everything – his or her trust, confidence, mental
processes, decisions and actions are guided by God alone. While such leaders
are rare gems, they are greatly desired and urgently required in any nation. This
is because such leaders will not take laws into their hands; they will not act
according to the dictates of their flesh like Ahab who coveted Naboth’s
vineyard and assented to the murder of Naboth so he could own Naboth’s
vineyard. They will not be like Nebuchadnezzar who ordered the immediate
execution of the wise men in Babylon simply because they could not his dream
and the interpretation, same Nebuchadnezzar who raised up a statue and called
for human worship and when Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego defied him , he had
them thrown into the fiery furnace which fortunately did harm them.
Beloved, there are other rulers in the Bible and
history who did far worse than these two Kings. That is because they were not
dependent on God and they were not dependent on God because they had no fear of
God.
Centurion Cornelius feared God and because he feared
God, he did not assume of presume. He was sensitive to divine promptings (God
opened his eyes to see the angel sent by God to him; God also opened Cornelius’
eyes of understanding to recognize the angel as a messenger of God).
Subsequently, Cornelius obeyed to the letter every instruction given by the
angel of God.
Hezekiah was a godly King who provided great leadership
in Judah. He trusted in God and served God all through his reign in Judah. Additionally,
he turned the hearts of the people back to God and restored the true worship of
God in Judah. Please read 2nd Chronicles Chapters 29 to 31. He was
not ashamed of publicly declaring and practicing his love for God. He bowed and
worshipped God publicly, he alongside other leaders in his cabinet commanded
the Levites to sing quality praise to God (2nd Chronicles Chapter 29
verses 27 to 30). He also commanded the Levites to offer the burnt offering on
the altar. He prayed for the people who did not remember to cleanse themselves
and God listened to him and healed the people. Hezekiah encouraged the Levites
and as the people and leaders of Judah turned to God completely, the Bible
records that there was great joy in Jerusalem; culminating in the pronouncements
of blessings on the people and leaders by the Priests and the Levites.
Beloved, Judah and the people of Judah enjoyed great
spiritual, physical, economic and intellectual prosperity in the days of
Hezekiah. Talk about godly leadership and national development and
transformation; godly leadership is pivotal.
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