Tag: God

Core Values

We talk about values. We understand the need for values. We even categorize our values: personal, family, moral, and work.

What are the “core” values of our life?

We face the necessity of recognizing that leadership must be based on core values.

God’s word should be the standard for our core values, because the people who surround us all benefit from them.

Our leadership will not grow beyond the level of the values we live by as a leader. Let us make sure our values measure up to the right standard.

Great Work

As spiritual leaders, we need to love what we do, knowing the benefits for the life to come.

We need to believe and know this is a great work!

Steve Jobs once said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

The work is far too valuable and important to do just enough to get by, the bare minimum.

This is God’s work. Let us love it, live it, and invest our lives into it.

Greatest Job

Life is too short to work at a career we hate. In addition, when we love what we do, it never feels like work.

This does not mean there will never be problems or challenges, even with a job we love. However, when we love what we do, the difference is noticeable.

Regardless of our career choice, nothing holds more value than leading others to Christ. There is no greater opportunity or privilege than changing someone’s eternal destination.

When our relationship with God makes a difference for others, we learn the love of the greatest job.

Great Leaders

Wandering in desert places does not appeal to most. Yet, many in leadership lack the vision to lead people in the direction they ought to go, and this is their primary role.

Rosalynn Carter said, “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”

We need great leaders in the home, the world, and the church today. Too many only lead people where they want to go. Let us arise to the challenge and become the great leaders God requires in every area of life.

God and Others

Never forget, “We can’t make it on our own.” We need God and each other.

The vital role of leaders cannot be overstated. People are hurting; they lack joy in their lives; they struggle to find answers.

Our spiritual families assemble because they need and want help. They desire a message to help them deal with the pain of life.

We must always remember the necessity of helping others. It may be a friend or a family member. When they seek help, let us lead them to the only One who can ease their pain, Jesus.

The Heart

We often develop relationships because we believe there is a payoff down the road. Samuel Johnson wrote, “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”

Our leadership gains momentum if we learn to avoid favoritism, develop consistency, fairness, and the highest level of integrity.

Why is this important? Because God shows no partiality. He does not look at the color of our skin, nationality in our passport, birthday, gender, or the amount of physical prosperity. He simply examines the heart of each person. Do we?

Deep Work

Cal Newton’s book Deep Work provides amazing insight into the disruptive nature of distractions to a deeper level of work that matters.

He expressed this thought, “Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not.”

Leaders need to be clear regarding what matters. With this clarity it is possible to eliminate other matters that tend to distract us. Then we can focus on a deeper work that is critical to the spiritual purpose God desires.

We need extended time without the constant barrage of social media, email, texting, and phone calls. The result is time that allows us to challenge our minds to think more deeply.

Intimate Relationship

Moses experienced an intimate relationship with God that was “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”

Is it possible for us to develop an intimate relationship shared between the closest of friends?

We can if we learn from the example of Moses.

He desired to know God more than anything else.
He sought the favor of God through obedience.
He communicated with God daily.
He loved God’s people with an incredible intercessory love.
He led with a passion to fulfill God’s will.

The New Testament teaches us to walk with our God based on several parallel levels. Spiritual leaders should not only desire this intimate relationship, but strive to achieve it.

Purpose

What is our purpose? We cannot lead effectively without purpose.

God had a purpose in sending Jesus.
Jesus had a purpose in laying down His life.
The apostles had a purpose in their preaching.

What is our purpose, yours and mine, in our day to day existence?

Spiritual leadership has but one purpose: leading others to heaven. The reason we strive to live a godly example is to fulfill this purpose.

For this reason we develop relationships with others. Nothing is more important. Nothing is more rewarding. Fulfilling our purpose makes the difference.

Two Worlds

A leader must be a student of two worlds.

You must know the world you live in physically and spiritually.

You need to know the challenges people face in this world, the struggles, trials, and events on the national and international scene.

You must also know the world you are living for spiritually. Therefore, you must be a student of God’s word.

All you and I say and do now is building a foundation for what is to come. Our task involves helping others in this world reach the right destination in the next.