Tag: Leadership

Leading in the Present…

David wrote, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.”

What exactly does today provide for our leadership?

Time to reflect on yesterday and make necessary changes.
Time to focus on our priorities, realizing we may only have today.
Time to prepare for potential challenges ahead.
Time to walk through God-given doors of opportunity.
Time to share the depth of our love with others.

Today is the day. Do not wait any longer. Be wise with the precious time God has placed before us.

Amazement…

After Jesus healed a man possessed with a thousand of demons, He told him to go home and tell his people what great things God had done for him. When he did, we learn that people were amazed.

When people compare the person we were before we became a Christian with who we are now as a Christian, are they amazed.

If not, maybe we should talk more about the great things God has done for us.

Let us amaze others with the difference God has made in our lives and the mercy He has shown us.

What Do We See?

Vision is not just about sight, but insight to see beyond what is right in front of us.

When we look at the world around us, what do we see?
When we look at our neighbors and friends, what do we see?
When we look at our families, what do we see?
When we look at the church, what do we see?
When we look at ourselves, what do we see?

Our vision strongly affects the way we see others and ourselves. Our vision is foundational to our understanding of and approach to the urgency before us.

Growth and Development…

Max DePree once said, “In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.”

The consequences of remaining in our present situation should motivate us to overcome the stagnate condition that ultimately ends in death.

Becoming what we need to be points us to God and His guidance.

Seek God’s help for the vision to see what He wants us to be, to make us what we need to be, and to never be content with remaining what we are.

A Snapshot of Leadership…

A snapshot in time displays a visual image of more than we can often express in words.

A compliment to any Christian is found in the reflection of Jesus, as represented in our words and actions.

Paul wrote it this way, “Be an imitator of me as I am of Christ” (1 Co. 11:1).

When leaders focus on demonstrating a Christ-like image, the greatness of God’s kingdom is exemplified and the common good of humanity is met.

A few minutes each day prepares a lasting image that is a picture worth keeping.

Flexible Leadership…

While several leadership qualities were demonstrated by Paul, one is key: flexibility (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

Notice the driving force of Paul’s flexibility, “So that I might win…by all means save some.” Nothing took greater precedence in his life than leading others to Christ.

There was no compromise to the truth. The “anything goes” approach was unacceptable. At all times he was in submission to Jesus.

Notice the flexibility of personal choice: “I do all things for the sake of the gospel.”

If Christians could model this today, we could change the world.

A Trustworthy Leader…

Can God trust us to love His church, be a good student of His Word, share the gospel with others, make the right choices, and lead His people?

Will others trust us to lead with consistency, competence, and connect with them?

How would we answer these questions?

Paul claimed “…it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Co. 4:2).

As stewards of all God has entrusted to us, are we trustworthy?

Let us develop a character that is worthy of trust, God’s and other’s.

Procrastination…

Procrastination is one of the most destructive practices for leaders.

Spiritually, there is a tendency to put off obeying the Gospel, sharing Jesus, or developing a plan for personal growth and development.

Will waiting until tomorrow, or until later, make it possible to avoid responsibility?

Scripture emphasizes the present. Joshua said, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom…do not worry about tomorrow.” Paul said, “Now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.”

These few places express our present time with urgency.

We need to ask, “Why put off until tomorrow, what can be done today?”

All In…

Part-time, half-time, when we’ve got time, or it’s a convenient time is the way too many approach Christianity.

Christianity has never been about a list of rules and regulations to be fulfilled as if checking something off a list.

When our lives are governed by Christ, the words and actions that form our character are based on a life of “being” not a list of things “to do.”

Keeping one foot in Christ and one in the world cannot take us to a higher level of spiritual development.

Serving the Lord requires the choice to be “all in.”

A Righteous Leader…

Righteousness is a biblical word that speaks to our relationship with God and others.

David addressed the character of one who understands both relationships when he said, “He works righteousness” (Ps. 15:2).

We must hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mt. 5:6), our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Mt. 5:20), and we must seek first His righteousness (Mt. 6:33).

The guide for life, food for our soul, ethical character, and our priorities are framed by Jesus.

God should trust and the world should know that our choices are righteous. Start by asking, “Is it right with God?”