Compassion is best described as a feeling of sympathy aroused by the distress of others with a desire to get involved and help. It is easy to see how Jesus would be described this way.

The tougher an environment becomes, the more a leaders’ need for compassion increases. During the challenges of life, the awareness of leadership to the needs of others becomes evident.

A leaders senses must be engaged, observant to the surroundings.

Their hearts must be touched with the situation of others.

The hands of a compassionate leader must act to help.

Compassion is one of the unique qualities spiritual leaders must possess to be like the great leader we have in Christ.

What will remain in the shadow of our leadership 20, 30, 40 or 50 years from now? Is our legacy as a leader intentional? Will our leadership be a shield to protect and provide for others? What legacy will we leave?

A legacy of money will eventually be spent.

A legacy of possessions will quickly fade.

A legacy of service will soon be forgotten.

A legacy of security will be destroyed.

Only a spiritual legacy influences this present life and the life to come.

Connecting with people is vital to good leadership. Several elements will help establish this connection.

1) Be transparent.

2) Provide hope.

3) Consistency is essential.

4) Relate to people individually.

5) Find ways to genuinely compliment others.

Leaders who connect lead with passion and integrity. They know and are known by others. Love for others drives a leader’s heart. Reaching the goal motivates a leader’s actions. Staying connected keeps a leader balanced.

Negotiation is an effort to reach an agreement or solution through compromise. Most often, there is give and take, thus, compromise.

Spiritual leaders need to exercise caution when it comes to negotiating. Far too often, God’s word is compromised in an attempt to appease a larger majority of people.

Attempts to negotiate, compromise, or change the word of God are futile.

Our leadership should not move people away from God and His word. Rather, our leadership should move people to God and His word.

Communication is challenging. We usually think others understand clearly. Often times, we even expect them to read our minds, the old reading between the lines.

However, others do not always understand. Thus, we need to communicate more effectively. Every leader must constantly work to improve their communication skills.

Learn to listen. Stop reading between the lines or thinking of what to say next.

Repeat back what was heard. This step ensures understanding.

Ask questions. This helps clarify areas we might have misunderstood.

Think before responding. Take time to consider a proper response.

I memorized scripture as a child sitting on his lap. I read the Bible to him every morning before school.

I listened to him sing praises to God. I heard countless sermons throughout my life.

He read the entire New Testament every month and the Old Testament twice a year. He was the best evangelist I have ever known. He led more souls to Christ than I can count.

I did not understand or appreciate his leadership growing up. I took for granted the hours of prayer on my behalf and the times he would ask “have you read your Bible today?”

However, there are no words to express how thankful I am for all he did to shape me into the person I am. He would have turned 83 today.

I continue to be blessed by his influence, and I pray God will help me lead my children and grandchildren as he led me.

The hand represents a significant concept throughout scripture. In the Old Testament, we find a great contrast between deliverance by the hand of the Lord and oppression by the hand of Israel’s enemies. God’s hand held both reward and consequence.

God’s hand also instills hope, because Jesus now sits at the right hand of the majesty on high.

We are instructed to humble ourselves “under the mighty hand of God.”

For leaders, the significance of the hand stems from leading out of humility and providing hope.

We have an opportunity to make a difference with the use of our hand.

While the downside may be negative, the upside is positive.

Why is it that leadership cannot always be about the upside? Is there a purpose to dealing with the negative struggles challenging our leadership?

Spiritual leaders know the downside helps in developing an appreciation for the upside.

God’s perfecting power in our lives results from enduring the downside.

The downside is designed to equip us with an ability to help others who are suffering.

The difference is found in the way leadership deals with these challenges. The downside is the fact that challenges and problems will come. The upside is they are only temporary.

Lead with the hope of knowing there is an upside.

Danger may exist on the other side of the fence. Leaders need to consider…

1) If something appears to good to be true, it generally is.

2) Most often, the other side is not always what it first appears.

3) An inappropriate desire for the other side leads to sin.

4) Focusing on the other side distracts us from the present work.

5) Remember, someone may be looking with desire at our side of the fence.

Leadership has a responsibility to stay focused on the goal ahead. However, we must help prevent followers from the distractions that may exist on the other side of the fence.

Power is often associated with leadership. The problem arises when leadership abuses power, or their power is egocentrically based.

Spiritual leadership must be built on the power of God.

When our leadership becomes narcissistic, it will fail.

Leadership is about power, but the power comes from our God through His gracious and indescribable gift, Jesus.

He is the power to save. He is the power that makes all things happen. He is the power to lead.

Paul wrote “no man has the power to lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus the Christ” (1 Co. 3:11).

Let us all pray God’s power will guide the direction of our leadership.