Lead Like Jesus
“When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it, for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!”
Ecclesiastes 5:4
We know God to be faithful, and we need to be faithful to Him as well. If we promise God something in our prayer closet, we need to make sure our actions line up with that promise.
4 ways to lead like Jesus!!
Don’t you believe Jesus was the best leader that has ever lived? Seriously, look at what HE accomplished with just three years of a public ministry…it’s STILL impacting people all over the world.
Four things (and there ARE way more than four) Jesus did that made Him an effective leader.
Ways You Can Lead Like Jesus
#1 – Jesus Spent Time With His Inner Circle
The idea that the leader cannot be close with the people he works with simply isn’t Christ like. Jesus did not isolate Himself from “his staff,” but rather He did life and ministry with them. “Relationships”.
The leader who is afraid to be known by the people he has been called to serve with is in a dangerous place as he either thinks himself:
* better than them
*or is quite possibly trying to hide something from them.
Jesus didn’t lead through fear…He led through “Relationships” and these only become stronger as we spend TIME with one another.
In fact, He actually called them His friends (see John 15:15.)
If Jesus can be friends with His “staff”, then why can’t we do the same?
#2 – Jesus Was More About Who His Followers Were Becoming Than What They Were Doing!
If a leader cares more about the Work his staff produces— rather than the Fruit that the Lord is producing in them, then he will often put his team in a dangerous place because he will attempt to DRIVE them through his agenda rather than attempt to lead them through the Lord’s agenda.
Jesus knew if they developed fully devoted hearts for Him that the quality of their work would show it!
*Jesus needs to be our Central Focus in Everything we do-otherwise life will be meaningless! (Read Ecclesiastes 1,2, 5
And chapter 12 for your life’s purpose)
#3 – Jesus Was Patient With Those Closest To Him
As we read the Gospels we never see Jesus going on a rant against His disciples.
Sure, there are places where He offers correction and/or rebuke…but this is the exception, NOT the rule…and He does not go on and on for chapter after chapter.
*Jesus addresses the issue and then moves on!!!
*Jesus approaches His “staff” with a patient attitude and does not assume that just because someone makes a Mistake that they are either disloyal to Him or simply an idiot who is incapable of doing anything signifiant.
A leader that is always losing his/her temper with others because “they don’t get it” usually does not realize that the reason many people don’t “get it” isn’t because they are lacking intelligence but rather because they haven’t been led well. (We need to look in the mirror).
(And…btw…when Peter “blew it” by denying Christ…Jesus did not write him off or “fire him,” he went from Jerusalem to Galilee to find him and restore him to the ministry! See John 21!
Great leaders don’t look to fire people first…they look to WALK them through the mistake and RESTORE them!)
#4 – Jesus Was Not Paranoid
One of the craziest things that takes place in Christian leadership circles is the incredibly insane idea that a leader always needs to be paranoid about which staff are and are not with him…and who might ultimately betray him.
Jesus KNEW He was going to be betrayed by Judas…and yet that did not distract Him from what God had called Him to do. (In fact, I would argue that Judas’ betrayal ultimately led to Jesus moving into a greater place!!!)
If you are in leadership(which we all are being it raising kids to volunteering to CEO’s) long enough someone WILL betray you…it will hurt; however, that does not give us an excuse to run around and constantly create an atmosphere of FEAR and DOUBT on staff and call everything that we don’t like or perceive as an attack against an idea we might have as “disloyal.”
The better question for a leader to ask is NOT, “are these people for me,” but rather, “am I for these people?” Because…if a staff(kids, co-workers) etc ) knows that the leader(Boss,parent-grand Parent etc. ) loves them, that they want the best for them and is willing to fight to lead them, love them and be patient with them, then betrayal is far less of a threat than the leader who is always freaking out about who might and might not be fully sold out to the vision.
You are My chosen generation; holy priests, true worshippers, the guiding light that this world needs to see. So, rise up and shake off the dust of the world. Shake off that which has brought failure and discouragement to you. Rise up as the child of God and say, “I will walk this new path. I will walk on this path in the goodness of your glory. In Jesus name, let it be so.”
The Lord calls you today to set your sights on higher spiritual ground. No matter where you are in your circumstances, now is the time to come higher in your dedication to the Lord. The condition of the earth and the chaos of people and nations demand a greater level of commitment in order for tribulation to produce victory. Your total submission to the Lord is critical at this juncture. Arise to new heights.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
I thank you Lord that I am your child I am truly yours Father and I thank you for all the love that you bestow up on me I thank you for your peace, your love, your joy, your favor, your mercy, your grace that you pour out on my life daily. I wait in anticipation for the day that I will see you Lord face to face and I pray to be more like you daily keep me pure, keep me clean and unspotted from the world, keep me in your word Lord and praying without ceasing. Keep me Father on the right path, Lord Jesus I follow you, I’m on your heels, right behind you Lord, where ever
you go I will follow I want to be where you are. I don’t need Blessings–I need you JESUS above ALL things! Help me lead as to how your Spirit directs with Love, Patience, Compassion, Kindness, Joy giving You ALL the Glory and Praise! In Jesus name I pray. Amen