Yesterday serves as a powerful day of remembrance in the history of our nation. The closer people are to the individuals who lost their lives that day, the stronger the remembrance. Regardless of where we were we remember the tragic events of 9-11.

One of the most powerful memories of that day involve the incredible benevolent, servant, and sacrificial acts of leadership connected to those events. Our country continues to remember and honor those heroic acts.

Even though it may be a lesser comparison, we must consider how our leadership will be remembered. Will it be the benevolent acts of service demonstrated toward those in need? Will the sacrifices of our time, energy, and talent as leaders be remembered?

We need to note that it is not always about heroic levels of leadership that are remembered in the highlight reels of life. Perhaps the greatest mark left on the world is the simple and selfless acts done on a daily basis that touch the lives of those in need. Please read Matthew 25:34-40.

Never let an opportunity slip by to touch someone God places on our path in life.

The idea of mission assumes many forms and definitions. A mission often relates to accomplishing specific tasks within a designated time frame. These tasks connect to military tactics, political advancements, corporate positioning, and religious direction.

The most important mission refers to the work of our God and His directives for those who follow Him. We often refer to this as the Great Co-mission. However, God’s mission goes back much further than the Gospel accounts.

God’s mission was established before the foundation of the world (Ep. 1:4), promised to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-4), prophesied concerning a descendant of David (2 Sam. 7:12), fulfilled in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Mt. – Jn.), and directed through the apostles for the church (Mt. 28:19-20; Ep. 4:11-16).

Leaders play a significant role in the mission of God. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God instructed leadership. Specific individuals were directed by God to lead His people to a better place.

If our mission today does not align with His mission, then we need to refocus our purpose.

Preparation is essential in every area of life. The lack of preparation most often results in consequences that damage our influence and leadership.

Sadly, there are those who prepare to lead for the purpose of gaining an advantage over others, or to simply achieve their own agenda. These efforts may create situations where a leader gains a position of power or strengthens their popularity.

But, beware of the long term consequences. God never intended our leadership to be self-serving. Rather, He designed leadership to be self-sacrificing, one of self-denial where others are more important than self.

Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is a quick read, but one filled with depth about the type of influence leaders were intended to have through an “others-centric” style of leading.

The right mind (humility), the right example (Christ), the right design (interest of others), and the right motive (abounding love and grace).

With this combination, leaders prepare themselves to lead with significance. The result makes an eternal difference.

Before we can experience success, we must understand what we mean be success.

The definition of success on a personal and corporate level takes on different dimensions accordingly. We also find that the definition of success often changes with the stage and development of one’s life. Based on the generic dictionary definition, success is “an event that accomplishes its intended purpose, an attainment that is successful.”

A problem tends to enter the picture when we consider success strictly from a position of fame or prosperity.

Most of us know this intellectually, but still find it difficult to determine how we define success otherwise.

One thought, however, should be considered in the realm of leadership. If we do not know how to define success, creating a vision for the future will be met with great challenge.

When we do not know the destination, how will we ever know if we reach it? Beyond this, why would anyone be passionate about pursuing the vision?

Unless we first define what we mean by success, any thought to our vision crumbles with a sense of mediocrity.

What qualities would describe the perfect leader?

Of course, the only perfect leader was Jesus. The accounts of His life, as described in the gospels, leave us with an incredible biography of leadership.

From these records we learn of His compassion, empathy, humility, love, and much more. One quality that seems to rise to the top is the servant’s heart displayed in every action.

Jesus came to this earth as a bond-servant and He left this earth as a bond-servant. Every breath between these two points exemplified servant-leadership. Here are a few lessons to learn from His example:

1) Servants do not look out for their own interests, but seek to put others above themselves (Phi. 2:3-5).

2) Servants are aware of the present circumstances and extend a solution to the need (Jn. 6:1-14 cf. v. 5).

3) Servants never seek opportunity for their own glory, but look to glorify God (Mt. 5:16; Jn. 8:49-59).

These are only three ideas among four gospels that provide a source worth exploring to improve our leadership of God’s people.