Follow the Leader

In our G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Times) series, our sermon was on the greatest Leader of all times.  During the children’s time, Pastor Kim asked the children who liked to play “follow the leader”.  No real fans.  At the end of the children’s moment she asked the children to pray with her, reciting, line by line.  I could hear one child repeat after her to help us follow Jesus, etc.  Then Pastor Kim said, “help us to forgive others”, I heard nothing.  I am sure the child’s attention span was gone but I thought there was my sermon for the day.  

Isn’t that like us adults?  We want to follow Jesus but we don’t want to do it all!  Can’t we pick and choose.  I will love you.  I will follow you.  I will do what you say but don’t make me forgive so and so!  But yet we want to be leaders to help enrich the Kingdom of God.  In our Bible reading yesterday we read Matthew 10: 25, “Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master.”  We need to follow The Leader!

During the sermon I was reminded of leadership and team building workshops.  We can go to all the workshops we want but until we love like Jesus we will not elevate our leadership skills.  Jesus is the perfect example of being a Leader.  He put others' needs before His own.  He did not let ego or pride get in the way.  He was humble and selfless.  He did not desire accolades or positions of power. Jesus was a great Servant, washing the feet of His disciples even during His most difficult time.  He convicts while showing tremendous compassion.  Jesus led with love!  

Philippians 2: 3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”  So how can we do this?  We can make prayer a priority like Jesus did.  Mark 9: 28-29, “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’  So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’”

Jesus began his ministry by recruiting 12 men and I have never heard of any signing bonuses or benefits.  They dropped everything and went with Him.  I have always heard that the best teachers/leaders are those whose teams are effective when the leader leaves.  Jesus has over 2 billion followers and has lasted nearly 2,000 years. I would say Jesus is the greatest Leader of all time!