| Day 265: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. One Last ThingI am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, "If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel." And there is something else. You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me when he murdered my two army commanders, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He pretended that it was an act of war, but it was done in a time of peace, staining his belt and sandals with innocent blood. Do with him what you think best, but don't let him grow old and go to his grave in peace.
(1 Kings 2:2-6) ReflectDavid, whose life exemplified obedience, gave well-seasoned advice to his son, the next king. It would be up to Solomon to follow it. David stressed to Solomon the need to make God and his laws the center of personal life and government in order to preserve the kingdom, as God had promised to do (2 Samuel 7). This promise from God had two parts. One part was conditional and depended upon the actions of Israel's kings. The other part was unconditional. God's conditional promise was that David and his descendants would retain the kingship only when they honored and obeyed him. When David's descendants failed to do this, they lost the throne (2 Kings 25). God's unconditional promise was that David's line would go on forever. This was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, who was also the eternal Son of God (Romans 1:3-4). RespondAll of us are leaders in one way or another. We lead our children, coworkers, and other adults in Bible studies or in other ways. Some of us, however, have leadership opportunities beyond the norm. Prayerfully evaluate your leadership model. How do you honor God through your leadership? What leadership legacy would you want to leave your children? | 
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