The Optics Of A Leader
Optics – the scientific study of sight and the behavior of light … the way in which an event or course of action is perceived by the public.
What is God looking for? What does He see?
Hanani the seer (God’s prophet) informed King Asa (910-873 BC; 3rd king in Judah; Solomon’s great-grandson) that his actions were under a royal gaze … 2 Chronicles 16:1–10 (CEV) … because of Asa’s misplaced dependence, he would always be at war …
“In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s rule, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and captured the town of Ramah. He started making the town stronger, and he put troops there to stop people from going in and out of Judah.
When Asa heard about this, he took the silver and gold from his palace and from the Lord’s temple. Then he sent it to Damascus with this message for King Benhadad of Syria: “I think we should sign a peace treaty, just as our fathers did. This silver and gold is a present for you. Would you please break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel and force him to leave my country?”
Benhadad did what Asa asked and sent the Syrian army into Israel. They captured the towns … [and] … fortified the towns … Soon after that happened, Hanani the prophet went to Asa and said: You depended(relied) on the king of Syria instead of depending on the Lord your God. And so, you will never defeat the Syrian army. Remember how powerful the Ethiopian and Libyan army was, with all their chariots and cavalry troops! You trusted the Lord to help you then, and you defeated them. The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him. But you have done a foolish thing, and your kingdom will never be at peace again.”
“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)
Reading these words, we might get the false sense that God watches our every move so He can “catch, get or pounce” [on] us. But the prophet’s words focus on the positive. His point is that God continually watches and waits for us to call on Him when we’re in need.
Let’s shift our focus on the eyes of the Lord and consider the counsel of Scripture regarding what we look for … what we see, how we see and think about our own sight (optics).
How do leaders see? Where do leaders look? Through The Eyes Of A Leader … As Leaders … HOW – prayer, time with Jesus, reading the Bible, meditation, journaling, coaching, etc.
1.We Are To Lift Our Eyes (Dependence, Reliance, Weakness, Humility)
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1–2 (NIV)
Help = the Holy Spirit’s anointing, guidance and wisdom. Daily decisions!
2.We Are To Fix Our Eyes (Focus, Attention, Direction, Destination, Endurance)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not growweary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)
3.We Are To Turn Our Eyes (Distractions, Alignment, Submission)
“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keepyour law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands (vs. suggestions or recommendations), for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.” Psalm 119:33–40 (NIV)
4.We Are To Open Our Eyes (Clarity, Curiosity, Obedience)
“Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:17–18 (NIV)
5.We Are To Guard Our Eyes (Purity, Integrity, Faithfulness, Intentionality)
“I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. I will not look with approval onanything that is vile.” Psalm 101:1–3 (NIV)
Where You Look You Will Go
Reflect on the trajectory of your life (and leadership). How did you end up where you are right now … relationally, spiritually, financially, physically, professionally, etc.? Doesn’t happen overnight. This is a lifetime of dedication … obedience in the same direction. Marathon – not a sprint. Every day – steps in the God-honoring direction – watching your step.
The good news is that we can leverage this principle rather than being leveraged by it! There is a compound positive impact when our sight is lifted, fixed, turned, opened and guarded … upon and by the Lord! His Holy Spirit gives us 2020 Vision! J
What You Behold You Will Become
The leadership journey is not meant to be taken alone. There are enormous implications for where you look and what you see based on WHO you’re living and doing life with. This simply cannot be overstated! We’re designed to help one another be on the lookout for the potholes, guardrails, blind spots, shortcuts, distractions and temptations along the way!
Let’s learn from the life of Asa. He refused to repent and died an unrepentant man …
“Everything Asa did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, he got a very bad foot disease, but he relied on doctors and refused to ask the Lord for help. He died two years later.” 2 Chronicles 16:11–13 (CEV)
As we wrap up … consider the implications of our optics for those we serve, lead and are trying to reach. It is of the utmost importance that we pray through these matters for our own health and well-being … but perhaps even more so for the future of our kids, marriages, families, neighborhoods, teams, organizations and the future of Jesus’ movement – His church!
How might God’s eyes be roaming our world – even now – looking to find faithfulness in us? How might He provide the hope and help we need?
Why is it vital for us to regularly look to the Lord for direction and guidance? How does it encourage you to know that He awaits your calls for help?
Let’s Pray!
Heavenly Father, may You strengthen our hearts that we might be fully committed to You. Jesus, would You please help us to lift, fix and turn our eyes toward You? Holy Spirit, we seek Your empowerment to open our eyes and acknowledge our dependence upon Your enablement to guard our eyes. Fill us with a new and fresh awareness of all the beautiful things You’re doing around us, in this season, so that we can gaze upon all Your fullness and majesty. Equip us to teach others how to pay attention and be intentional with their eyes/sight/optics. Amen!
What is God looking for? What does He see?
Hanani the seer (God’s prophet) informed King Asa (910-873 BC; 3rd king in Judah; Solomon’s great-grandson) that his actions were under a royal gaze … 2 Chronicles 16:1–10 (CEV) … because of Asa’s misplaced dependence, he would always be at war …
“In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s rule, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and captured the town of Ramah. He started making the town stronger, and he put troops there to stop people from going in and out of Judah.
When Asa heard about this, he took the silver and gold from his palace and from the Lord’s temple. Then he sent it to Damascus with this message for King Benhadad of Syria: “I think we should sign a peace treaty, just as our fathers did. This silver and gold is a present for you. Would you please break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel and force him to leave my country?”
Benhadad did what Asa asked and sent the Syrian army into Israel. They captured the towns … [and] … fortified the towns … Soon after that happened, Hanani the prophet went to Asa and said: You depended(relied) on the king of Syria instead of depending on the Lord your God. And so, you will never defeat the Syrian army. Remember how powerful the Ethiopian and Libyan army was, with all their chariots and cavalry troops! You trusted the Lord to help you then, and you defeated them. The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him. But you have done a foolish thing, and your kingdom will never be at peace again.”
“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)
Reading these words, we might get the false sense that God watches our every move so He can “catch, get or pounce” [on] us. But the prophet’s words focus on the positive. His point is that God continually watches and waits for us to call on Him when we’re in need.
Let’s shift our focus on the eyes of the Lord and consider the counsel of Scripture regarding what we look for … what we see, how we see and think about our own sight (optics).
How do leaders see? Where do leaders look? Through The Eyes Of A Leader … As Leaders … HOW – prayer, time with Jesus, reading the Bible, meditation, journaling, coaching, etc.
1.We Are To Lift Our Eyes (Dependence, Reliance, Weakness, Humility)
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1–2 (NIV)
Help = the Holy Spirit’s anointing, guidance and wisdom. Daily decisions!
2.We Are To Fix Our Eyes (Focus, Attention, Direction, Destination, Endurance)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not growweary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)
3.We Are To Turn Our Eyes (Distractions, Alignment, Submission)
“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keepyour law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands (vs. suggestions or recommendations), for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.” Psalm 119:33–40 (NIV)
4.We Are To Open Our Eyes (Clarity, Curiosity, Obedience)
“Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:17–18 (NIV)
5.We Are To Guard Our Eyes (Purity, Integrity, Faithfulness, Intentionality)
“I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. I will not look with approval onanything that is vile.” Psalm 101:1–3 (NIV)
Where You Look You Will Go
Reflect on the trajectory of your life (and leadership). How did you end up where you are right now … relationally, spiritually, financially, physically, professionally, etc.? Doesn’t happen overnight. This is a lifetime of dedication … obedience in the same direction. Marathon – not a sprint. Every day – steps in the God-honoring direction – watching your step.
The good news is that we can leverage this principle rather than being leveraged by it! There is a compound positive impact when our sight is lifted, fixed, turned, opened and guarded … upon and by the Lord! His Holy Spirit gives us 2020 Vision! J
What You Behold You Will Become
The leadership journey is not meant to be taken alone. There are enormous implications for where you look and what you see based on WHO you’re living and doing life with. This simply cannot be overstated! We’re designed to help one another be on the lookout for the potholes, guardrails, blind spots, shortcuts, distractions and temptations along the way!
Let’s learn from the life of Asa. He refused to repent and died an unrepentant man …
“Everything Asa did while he was king is written in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, he got a very bad foot disease, but he relied on doctors and refused to ask the Lord for help. He died two years later.” 2 Chronicles 16:11–13 (CEV)
As we wrap up … consider the implications of our optics for those we serve, lead and are trying to reach. It is of the utmost importance that we pray through these matters for our own health and well-being … but perhaps even more so for the future of our kids, marriages, families, neighborhoods, teams, organizations and the future of Jesus’ movement – His church!
How might God’s eyes be roaming our world – even now – looking to find faithfulness in us? How might He provide the hope and help we need?
Why is it vital for us to regularly look to the Lord for direction and guidance? How does it encourage you to know that He awaits your calls for help?
Let’s Pray!
Heavenly Father, may You strengthen our hearts that we might be fully committed to You. Jesus, would You please help us to lift, fix and turn our eyes toward You? Holy Spirit, we seek Your empowerment to open our eyes and acknowledge our dependence upon Your enablement to guard our eyes. Fill us with a new and fresh awareness of all the beautiful things You’re doing around us, in this season, so that we can gaze upon all Your fullness and majesty. Equip us to teach others how to pay attention and be intentional with their eyes/sight/optics. Amen!
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