You’ve heard about Hananiah, right? How about Shelemiah? Zadok? Perhaps Pedaiah? Or Hanan?
Although these men are all mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, don’t feel bad if they’re not familiar to you. They did not accomplish great feats, rule a kingdom, lead an army, spark a revival, or do anything seemingly notable.
They appear to be a mere footnote in the pages of history.
Even so, they are remarkable for one thing—a most important trait—their character.
Hananiah was asked to be a leader because he was a man of integrity.
Shelemiah, Zadok, Pedaiah, and Hanan were given responsibility because they were trustworthy.
Integrity and trustworthiness are two traits in short supply nowadays, but they are characteristics that produce promotion and responsibility—perhaps not in grand and glorious ways, but subtly and humbly.
These are the kind of leaders, I think, that God delights in.
[Nehemiah 7:2 and Nehemiah 13:13]
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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