TUESDAY - 14TH APRIL, 2026
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
CONSIDERATE LEADERS
Acts 15:28, KJV
"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things."
In an interview with one of the heads of state of AES, it is revealed how the state cushions the inflated price of petroleum by paying for it herself so it doesn't lead to increment in prices of goods and services. Then, that head of state noted that they could have chosen not to have done that because they are not an oil producing nation but yet they had to take that step because the happiness of their citizens is at the centre of their agenda.
Yet, there's a contradiction in many other places. Even countries that produce oil and have refineries and plants couldn't survive the rising cost. Instead of absorbing it for their citizens, they have rather spread it over to them. This has led to higher costs of living in groceries, transportation and fuel etc. This obviously has led to the difficult life being experienced in those countries.
These two experiences I just shared have a thing to do with what the apostles did for the church in Antioch. Amidst the doctrinal controversy and confusion on circumcision, they wrote them a letter only demanding that they abstain from things polluted, sacrificed to idols, strangled, or of blood and then from fornication.
In the statement of the apostles, they said it pleased the Holy Ghost and them not to lay any greater burden on the Gentile brethren apart from those petty demands they have made on them in order to keep them pure and distinct from their idolatrous world.
The question is, how many leaders have such hearts not to extort people? They could have pushed things to the extreme. Even as some which are of the sect of the Pharisees amidst the apostles said, they could have been made to observe the laws of Moses - every bit of it. However, Peter defends against that by recalling the impracticality of that to them this way.
Acts 15:10, KJV
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"
Many times, what hypocrite leaders want their followers or citizens to do is what they themselves struggle with. It is what they can't cope with or survive. One will think that'll serve as enough deterrent to hinder their going ahead. However, these hard and difficult leaders instead of relieving their citizens and followers of killing burdens will rather put much on them.
But in the midst of all, I'm hearing another voice that tends to challenge the selfish and hypocrisy demands of the Pharisees that lay heavy burdens on people without lifting it with even their own finger. The voice I hear speaks of good to the benefit of the society and it says reassuringly, "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things."
If the Holy Ghost struggles with you to stop bothering and extracting your members for financial gains, why isn't it pleasing to you? Why haven't you stopped? As for the apostles, the Holy Spirit's will is their command. First, it seemed good to the Holy Spirit that no extra charges or burdens be laid on the Gentile brethren. Immediately, it pleases the apostles also.
Do we have this type of leaders in our churches and nations? Leaders who want to relieve the burdens of the people. Leaders who want people to have a gracious life under the law of liberty. It is left for you to answer. I pray that what pleases the Holy Ghost to do will also please you to do.
PRAYER: Father, give me a true heart for leadership. A heart that wants to serve sincerely and honestly, not for gains.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 9:3-10:43, Luke 16:19-17:10, Psalm 83:1-18, Proverbs 13:4
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