Skip to main content

Great Responsibility

    I have talked about how deciding to follow Jesus is a sacrifice of our time, resources, relationships and talents among other things. It is not something we can just do on the side of our "real" lives, it IS our life! This fact is even more magnified as a leader in the church.

    When you are put into a leadership position by the church or in your community, there is an even greater weight and responsibility that comes with it. Being a leader is not about getting attention and praise and telling everyone what to do. It is a very real commitment beyond just being a disciple.

    As a leader, you are put in a position where others are going to follow you. There will always be eyes looking to you for an example and guide. Whereas you may have "gotten away" (gone unnoticed) with your little sinful habits before, now someone is bound to notice! Being a leader brings a great number of people into your downfalls. This is why as leaders it is even more crucial for us to focus on Jesus all the time, always seeking His guidance and mercy.

1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (NIV)

 Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. (ESV)
Hebrews 13:17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. (NIV)

    When you are set apart by the Lord to lead, there is a lot of work that comes with it. Leading is servanthood. You don't get to call out orders and take watch. In fact, a true leader will be serving the most! Jesus was a servant of servants. If we want to be influential for Jesus in the Kingdom, we ought to lower ourselves as He did and become servants to those around us.

Luke 22:27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (ESV)

 Philippians 2:7 But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (ESV)

     Today I want to remind you that if your heart is desiring more leadership, it is not an easy task. It is something to be taken very seriously. You are held to a different standard, even by God. To lead His people is a task that can only be done in complete dependence on Him. If you feel called into leadership, lower yourself and humble your heart. Never tire of combating sin in your own life so that you may be more perfected in His likeness. Let others follow you as you follow Him.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV)





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Firm a Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Luke 6:46-49 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Seeing by Faith

    When we are trying to live by faith, the things that inhibit us are the things that are right under our noses. We are trained to live based on the things around us. We don't believe anything if we don't see proof of it. The things around us are more our reality than what we say we believe in. But the Bible tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. We are to live based on what we know is truth, not by what we see.     The things we see around us distract us from the reality we should be living in. What is unseen is eternal and more important than the things of this world. We need to fix our eyes on what is lasting and know the difference. We need to be filling ourselves with the word and not the world. When we are distracted by the world, we forget the truth. We become discouraged and doubt our faith. We need to draw strength from one another so that we may run the race with endurance.     What is determining your reality today? Is i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dancing Through the Fire

     For a couple weeks now the Lord has been pressing this message on my heart. He revealed a flaw in my thinking I hadn't noticed. You see, when hard times come it's in my nature to duck and cover. I go into "survival mode" and I get tunnel vision. I only focus on getting through what's in front of me alive. But in doing so, not only do I miss a lot of opportunities, but I give in to the voice of fear in my life.     I know I don't speak only for myself when I say that God wants to us in our "every day lives." Not only at church or on a special mission trip, but in the trenches of the grocery store, the gym, work, etc. It is His will that every soul is saved and He wants us to go out into the world and win those hearts for Him. But when I put myself in survival mode, I block out all the opportunities God lays before me. When I numb myself with the routine of each passing day, week, and month, I miss out on sharing the one thing of eternal importa...
1 comment
Read more