Divine leadership
"Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16
God leads by example. Those who are called to leadership are called to lead by example. Just before the Lord Jesus went to the cross, he washed the disciples feet to teach His followers to lead by example just as He did. Jesus said to His disciples,
"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15
Paul's leadership
The apostle Paul understood true leadership and wrote to the Corinthian church,
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
King David's leadership
King David also led by example. In the preparation for the building of the Temple, we read,
"And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction." 1 Chron. 29:3
Subsequently, King David asks,
"Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?" 1 Chron. 29:5
The first to respond were the leaders of Israel because King David modelled true leadership! We read,
"Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king's administrative officers all gave willingly." 1 Chron. 29:6
In response to the generosity of their leaders,
"The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy." 1 Chron. 29:9
Leadership in secret and in public
God calls leaders to lead by example both in secret and in public. What we are in secret is what we truly are in public.
The apostle Paul and his companions led by example to encourage the church to be like them.
He writes,
"You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord...And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia." 1 Thess. 1:5-7
"You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of Gd, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." 1 Thess. 2:10-12
Leadership means modelling a devoted life to Christ and His people.
A devoted life lives for God in secret and in public. The power for leadership comes from the integrity of devotion in secret and in public. A form of godliness, an external, public appearance of leadership will never influence and produce true followers of Christ.
Imitate Christ in the secret place
I am convinced that leadership begins in the secret place as the leader seeks the face of God to imitate Him (Eph. 3:24; 5:1). Those who try to lead in public without following Christ in secret will lead from themselves and not from Christ. They will lead to please man rather than to please Christ. Paul, however says,
"If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Gal. 1:10
Leaders, imitate Christ and lead by example, in secret and in public!
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Cor. 11:1
"Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16
God leads by example. Those who are called to leadership are called to lead by example. Just before the Lord Jesus went to the cross, he washed the disciples feet to teach His followers to lead by example just as He did. Jesus said to His disciples,
"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15
Paul's leadership
The apostle Paul understood true leadership and wrote to the Corinthian church,
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
King David's leadership
King David also led by example. In the preparation for the building of the Temple, we read,
"And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction." 1 Chron. 29:3
Subsequently, King David asks,
"Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?" 1 Chron. 29:5
The first to respond were the leaders of Israel because King David modelled true leadership! We read,
"Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king's administrative officers all gave willingly." 1 Chron. 29:6
In response to the generosity of their leaders,
"The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy." 1 Chron. 29:9
Leadership in secret and in public
God calls leaders to lead by example both in secret and in public. What we are in secret is what we truly are in public.
The apostle Paul and his companions led by example to encourage the church to be like them.
He writes,
"You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord...And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia." 1 Thess. 1:5-7
"You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of Gd, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." 1 Thess. 2:10-12
Leadership means modelling a devoted life to Christ and His people.
A devoted life lives for God in secret and in public. The power for leadership comes from the integrity of devotion in secret and in public. A form of godliness, an external, public appearance of leadership will never influence and produce true followers of Christ.
Imitate Christ in the secret place
I am convinced that leadership begins in the secret place as the leader seeks the face of God to imitate Him (Eph. 3:24; 5:1). Those who try to lead in public without following Christ in secret will lead from themselves and not from Christ. They will lead to please man rather than to please Christ. Paul, however says,
"If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Gal. 1:10
Leaders, imitate Christ and lead by example, in secret and in public!
"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Cor. 11:1
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