John Stanko | On August 27, 2015

The Pharisees Question Jesus
(painted by James Tissot) (circa 1886-1894)

“You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron”

– Psalm 77:20.

God was the One leading in the wilderness, but He did so through His appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron. God is still a leadership God, working through those whom He gives insight and courage to be out in front of the people. At the same time, Moses and Aaron were not perfect men, and the people often suffered because of them and vice versa. You must have realistic expectations where leaders are concerned; they cannot be God for you – making your decisions and exerting authority God never intended them to have. Yet God expects you to submit to authority because He has established the authority. Peter wrote these words to servants and you would do well to extract a lesson from what he was teaching:

“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God”

– 1 Peter 2:19-20.

What is your attitude toward your leaders? Do you respect authority, not because it is perfect, but because it is the will of God? Do you expect too much from authority while you submit, requiring their perfection or even their ability to hear God on your behalf?

Today’s reading – Psalms 76-80

John Stanko

John Stanko was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Duquesne University where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics in 1972 and 1974 respectively.

Since then, John has served as an administrator, teacher, consultant, author, and pastor in his professional career. He holds a second master’s degree in pastoral ministries, and earned his Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh in 2011.

John founded a personal and leadership development company, called PurposeQuest, in 2001 and today travels the world to speak, consult and inspire leaders and people everywhere. From 2001-2008, he spent six months a year in Africa and still enjoys visiting and working on that continent, while teaching for Geneva College’s Masters of Organizational Leadership and the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, John founded Urban Press, a publishing service designed to tell stories of the city, from the city and to the city.