Nuggets 72: Passing the Torch

  • B. Shelburne
  • Jun 3, 2007
  • Series: Nuggets

Saul hurled his spear at David, enraged at the thought that David would someday replace him as king.  Herod, unable to accept that he would not always be ruler, slaughtered the babies of Bethlehem as well as members of his own family.  In contrast, High priest Eli poured himself into the training of young Samuel for future leadership.  Elijah prepared Elisha to replace him.  Samuel, Elijah and Elisha trained groups of upcoming prophets.  Paul raised up many workers for the future.  He rejoiced in them, mentored them and prayed for them.

The greatest example of gracious torch-passing is John the Baptist.  When the crowds begin to shift to Jesus, John rejoiced in what God was doing and said, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven . . . He must become greater; I must become less."  In that spirit every servant leader with the mind of Christ will watch for emerging leaders and help them grow in responsibility.  If we don't, we drive our best young leaders away and the church has a leadership crisis when we can no longer lead.

We would like to work on and on.  Yet before we know it, our abilities begin to decline.  We are winding down, not gearing up.  We think more of preserving than creating.  We lack the courage of youth to dare and dream and build. We may be looking back more than ahead.  We are not as in touch with present needs.  We tire more easily.

And so we must hand over to another generation.  The only choice we have is how.  We can pass the torch graciously and constructively or we can stay in denial and treat the young as the enemy.  When we choose the latter the church pays an awful price.

1 Samuel 18:6-11;  Matthew 2:1-8,16;  1 Samuel chapters 1-3;  1 Kings 19:16-21;  1 Samuel 19:20;  2 Timothy 2:1-3;  John 3:26-30;  Matthew 16:24,25;  Philippians 2:5-11

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Copyright 2007 by G.B. Shelburne, III.  May be freely reproduced or forwarded for non-commercial purposes provided content is unchanged and this copyright notice is included.  These shepherding messages are sent to members and friends of New Beginnings Church (www.nbchurch.com), to students and alumni of South Houston Bible Institute (www.shbi.org), and to other interested persons.

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