Leadership Qualities We Learn From Jesus

Jesus said:  “’I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’”  John 14:6

Jesus said:  “’I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.’”  John 14:1-2

I’m completing a book for my industry and one of the chapters has to do with “Leadership” and that seems to be the flavour of the month in all the literature 

There was a study done by one of New York’s’ top executive search firms about the qualities and values of the best leaders.  They were:

1.      Never compromise on matters of principle nor standards of excellence, even on minor issues.

2.      Be persistent and never give up.

3.      Have a vision of where you’re going and communicate it often to your team.

4.      Know what you stand for.

5.   Set high standards and don’t be afraid to take on tough problems despite the risk.

6.      Spend less time managing and more time leading.

7.      Lead by example.

8.      Bring out the best in others. Hire the best people you can find, then delegate authority and responsibility, but stay in touch.

9.      Have confidence in yourself and in those around you, and trust others.

10.      Accept blame for failures and credit others with success.  Possess integrity and personal courage.

When I look into the Bible, these are all qualities found in Jesus' example of leadership.  

Mysteries of Grace Unravelled

I must have listened to two dozen different versions of Amazing Grace.  There were dozens more to listen to.  Everyone seems to want to sing this song that for some means life after life for eternity.  And when I found this version by the Gaithers...well I knew it was the one that would mean the most to those who know and have entrusted their lives into the safe keeping of the Lord Jesus Christ!  Enjoy.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

9 Truths about Grace

1.      Grace is not withheld from anyone because they are not good enough.

2.      Grace is not granted in proportion to how good or how bad someone is.

3.      Grace cannot incur a debt – it does not create obligation from the giver.

4.      Grace is not exercised in the just payment of a debt.

5.      Grace is NEVER the over-payment of a debt.

6.      Grace is not a reward  or reason for our faith (If we trust God, He’ll give us grace...It is not a reward or reason for His grace.)

7.      Grace cannot be elicited from God...You can’t “pull” it out or off of God. 

8.      There are no “means for more or less grace.

9.      God gives grace in response to His heart-choice as we love His Son and chose to trust Him with our life

Probably the one area where Christians have the greatest struggle (after being saved) is God’s grace. 

It’s one of God’s mysteries....and it’s enough to know He does grant us grace when we accept His gift of salvation. 

Bottom line:  

There is nothing you can do that will make God love you more.  There is nothing you can do that will make God love you less.  That is the essence of Grace!

Take a moment to review the 9 Truths above.  Don’t be deceived by anything less or more ever again!  

Whispers

Perhaps you have never strayed back to former mistake patterns in your life.  Perhaps you've never found the strength to walk away from ties that bind you to thoughts and activities that would not bring our Heavenly Father glory or joy.

For me, one Easter, as I felt unworthy to even go to church, I still woke before what would have been time for the Sunrise Service that I so loved.  I walked to a little bench beside a beautiful lake with my Bible in hand. 

I wondered what people do who feel so unworthy they do not have the courage or energy to go to church on Easter.  This day so many celebrate the amazing resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I decided I would read each of the Gospels through.  By the time I reached Luke, I was feeling a bit tired, yet I was determined to continue.  That is until I reached Luke 22. 

It started in the same familiar way with the Passover celebration where Jesus presided for His disciples.  He broke the bread, He shared the wine.  He spoke the words that would have puzzled the disciples.  They must have imagined He was speaking in some kind of mystical fashion.

At verse 21 my heart began to ache for Jesus, because He knew:

"'But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Me on the table.'"

Yes, the Son of Man was born to be betrayed and die in a most lonely way and because of the impatience and greed of one of His very disciples.  A man handpicked by Jesus to learn from Him the wonders of a new Kingdom.

He speaks wisdom about leadership and thanks them for their follower-ship.  And then he speaks directly to the impetuous Peter with unexpected and even hurtful words.  Peter who jumped up to follow Jesus to the ends of the earth in the end.  Peter, who spoke enthusiastically and sometimes out of turn and was one of Jesus' closest friends:

"Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

And as you would expect, Peter was quick to assure Jesus of his loyalty under any and all circumstances. 

I always identified with Peter when I was a young Christian, loving his enthusiasm.  It sounded like me once upon a time...so sure of my resolve in Christ, so sure that I would not choose a pathway that would shove Jesus off the throne of my life. 

But I did.

As I sat on that park bench overlooking the peaceful lake and watching the sun rise, I quit reading about then as my eyes were so overflowing with tears. 

The truth hurt.  I was not ready to give up the pathway I had chosen to trod and wondered what this would mean for me as I walked on into more days of my life, choosing to do things my own way for now.

Then I read the verse 31 and 32 again and saw the part the Holy Spirit was etching deeply and painfully into my heart,

"...and you, WHEN once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." 

He wrote that just for me you realise...that it was even included is amazing for me as it is not in the other Gospels, just this one -- that I so love.

We all know the truth of this story of Peter and his undying energy for Jesus message.  We all imagined the moment after Peter denied Christ for the third time and looked up to see Jesus watching him in the distance (Luke 22:61) . 

I cannot imagine what Peter was thinking.  I cannot imagine how painful this moment was for Jesus, who was already suffering. 

After Jesus rose again and was giving last instructions to His disciples, again He turned to Peter, singling him out and asking him three times about the strength of his love for Jesus (John 21:15-17). 

It was symbolic of a future hope of healing for my heart. 

You see even when you do stray, even when you purpose to stay out there lost in your own opinion of what is right, He still knows your heart.  He still waits...for His grace is beyond our comprehension. 

This is grace.  Grace that says you cannot do anything to lose His love...Grace that says you cannot do anything to get more of His love, because you have it ALL from the very moment you surrender your life into His hands once you admit you cannot save yourself.  From that moment Ephesians 2:8-9 are two verses that give you hope in a new life.

Jesus knew what Peter would do and loved him still.  Jesus knew what Peter would do and died for him still.  This act of obedience to the Father took Peter's sin with Him on the Cross.  This act brought Peter the personal forgiveness and personal gracious love that only Jesus can.  It is how much He loves you and me!

On one of the flyleaves of my favourite Bibles are these words that I share with you in love:

"I'm saved because Jesus wants me to be a witness for Him.

He promised that if I tell the world about Him,

He will tell the Father about me!"

12 Proofs You Have Left Your First Love

"But I have this against you, that you have left your first love."  Revelations 2:4

1. When your delight in the Lord is no longer as great as your delight in something else, you have left your "first love". 

[Jesus teaching] "'Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.'" Mark 13:30

2. When your soul does not long for times of rich fellowship in God's Word and/ or in prayer, you have left your "first love". 

"And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognising that He had answered them well, asked Him, 'What commandment is the foremost of all?'

"Jesus Answered, 'The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel!  The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'" Mark 12:30

3. When your thoughts during leisure moments do not reflect upon the Lord, you have left your "first love". 

"Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children of farms, for My sake and for the Gospel's sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions;; and in the age to come, eternal life.'" Mark 10:30

"The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.  All his thoughts are, 'There is no God.'"  Psalm 10:4

4. When you claim to be "only human", and when you easily give in to those things which you know displeases the Lord, you have left your "first love". 

See Mark 12:30 at point 2

[Jesus teaching] "'Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!'  In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.'" John 15:8-10

"And when one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him,  'Blessed is everyone who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"  John 14:15  Be sure to read from verse 7-24 for context.

5. When you do not willingly and cheerfully give to God's work or to the needs of others, you have left your "first love". 

"But whoever has the word's goods and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" I John 3:17

6. When you cease to treat every Christian as I would the Lord, you have left your "first love". 

[Jesus teaching] "'And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'" Matthew 25:40

[Jesus teaching] "'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.'" John 13:34

7. when you view the commands of Christ as restrictions to your happiness rather than expressions of His love, you have left your "first love". 

[Jesus teaching] "'He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.'" John 14:21

8. When you inwardly strive for the acclaim of this world rather than the approval of the Lord, you have left your "first love". 

"Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in Him." I John 2:15

[Jesus teaching] "'If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are no of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.'" John 15:19

9. When you fail to make Christ or His Words known because you fear rejection, you have left your "first love". 

[Jesus teaching] "'Remember the Word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.'  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.'" John 15:20

10. When you refuse to give up an activity which you know is offending a weaker brother, you have left your "first love". 

"For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love.  Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.'" Romans 14:15

11. When you become complacent to sinful conditions around you, you have left your "first love". 

[Jesus teaching] "'You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good?  For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.'" Matthew 12:34

12. When you are unable to forgive another for offending you, you have left your "first love". 

"If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar, for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." I John 4:20