Leaders in Christ...
Here is something I wrote about being a Christian leader. I felt like sharing it today...
The world has its own view of what leadership is: power, money, recognition, status. But my desire this morning is to present to you what I consider is the best example of leadership, which is Jesus Christ. To illustrate this, there are two stories that the Lord has brought to my heart.
The first is in Luke 9:46-48, “An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest”. This exemplified Jesus’ thoughts on matters of leadership. To be a Christian leader requires humbling ourselves for the sake of others. In these verses, Jesus diffused the idea that leadership is all about us. It is about Him.
Another example of Jesus representing true leadership is in John 13, when He washes the disciples feet. In verses 12-17 it says, “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them”. In these days it was a common practice that when a guest would come to a house, their feet would be washed, but this act was done by the lowest of the lowest servant of the house. So through this act, Jesus is showing the disciples that leadership is not about position or status, but it’s about servanthood and love. How can we truly understand the concept of humility, servanthood, and love?
It all comes down to the realization of who we are in Christ. Christian leadership all starts by knowing your identity in Christ. Knowing your value is a key not only to life but to leadership as well. To me, the Cross is not just about the forgiveness of sin, but it also the revelation of my value in the eyes of God the Father. In Ephesians 1:5 Paul says, “He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will”. Therefore, if you don’t know your value and who you are in Christ, then you cannot understand and apply the principles that Jesus showed us in those two stories. Being a Christian leader is to be a disciple. Before you gave your life to Jesus you were dead in your sin, but by the power of Christ’s blood shed on the cross you were made alive in Him.
Paul states in Ephesians 2:2 that we were dead in our transgressions and sins in which we followed the ways of the world. Then in Colossians 3:1-4 Paul explains how we have now been raised to life in Christ. Therefore we should set our hearts on things above and not on earthly things. In our everyday life it is so important as a follower of Jesus to understand the mind of Christ. Everyday of my life as a Christian leader, I am faced with two choices. I can respond to situations with an earthly mind, living in my old nature, with leadership actions based on pride, power, control, and a need to accomplish this in my own strength. Or, I can respond with the mind of Christ, which will result in me surrendering my way of doing things, and instead do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phillipians 4:13).
To close, I suggest that the number one priority for a Christian leader is to know your identity in Him, to live a surrendered life to His thoughts and ways by pursuing a personal relationship with Christ, and then to exemplify His nature by serving and loving one another. Lastly, I would like to draw attention to the fact that many people think leadership only pertains to an organization, institution, or church settings. But true Christian leadership (which is to be a disciple) is a matter of the heart that should express itself everyday, where ever you are: in the street, with your neighbors, with your enemies, strangers, family, in the grocery store, on campus, at the gas pump, everywhere. It is a lifestyle.
Don’t keep this Truth to yourself. Share it with everyone - Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Peace & Love,
Meesh
