1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
Over these next few days, I am going to be looking at what it means to lead others by following Christ's example. Today, the attribute of leadership that I thought about was the way Jesus was so unthreatened. He walked this earth as God! He had the power to hold the universe together! And yet, not once did He point this out or push His rightful authority over others. Not once did we see Jesus outraged screaming to His transgressors, "Don't you know who I am?!"
Jesus called Himself the Son of Man and not the Son of God. He never boasted or pointed out His godliness. Yet we know that He is exalted above all! He was humble beyond humble. He was so confident in His identity from the Father that He was never threatened by others who tried to overtake Him. He stood firm in who He was and didn't have to prove His Godship to anyone. He let the Father reveal it.
Matthew 16:13-17 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (NIV)
The best picture of Jesus' security in the Father, in my opinion, is the following passage found in Philippians. It tells us how Jesus did not consider equality with God to be to His own advantage! The rightful God over all was so secure in His identity that He let Himself become a nothing. He never defended Himself or His identity because He was so secure in His Father. Therefore, God raised Him to the highest place!
Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)
Over these next few days, I am going to be looking at what it means to lead others by following Christ's example. Today, the attribute of leadership that I thought about was the way Jesus was so unthreatened. He walked this earth as God! He had the power to hold the universe together! And yet, not once did He point this out or push His rightful authority over others. Not once did we see Jesus outraged screaming to His transgressors, "Don't you know who I am?!"
Jesus called Himself the Son of Man and not the Son of God. He never boasted or pointed out His godliness. Yet we know that He is exalted above all! He was humble beyond humble. He was so confident in His identity from the Father that He was never threatened by others who tried to overtake Him. He stood firm in who He was and didn't have to prove His Godship to anyone. He let the Father reveal it.
Matthew 16:13-17 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (NIV)
The best picture of Jesus' security in the Father, in my opinion, is the following passage found in Philippians. It tells us how Jesus did not consider equality with God to be to His own advantage! The rightful God over all was so secure in His identity that He let Himself become a nothing. He never defended Himself or His identity because He was so secure in His Father. Therefore, God raised Him to the highest place!
Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)
I have news for you! We have the same Father! Through Jesus, we have the same secure identity. As leaders, we should never be fighting for positions or trying to talk ourselves up. We should trust in our Heavenly Father to raise us up when and where He wants us. Be humble and do not look for opportunities to usurp authority. All authority was given to Him (Matthew 28:18), so let's keep it that way! Lead unthreatened.
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