Much has been written about leadership and we certainly do have a plethora of descriptions, definitions and detailed qualifiers. While we can and should profit from all of this, it is critical that we keep the Word and the wisdom of God ever before us.

Leading From The Front And Living Faithful Through It All … Is The Most Desired Position For Us To Assume

Fundamentally, leading from the front does not mean putting ourselves first but rather making ourselves least, so that in humility and surrender we can model the way to find the fulness of Christ.

N.T. Wright, the New Testament scholar, says it this way, “Jesus’ death and resurrection showed that the power of love is greater than the love of power”.

All too often we define leadership in ways that completely deny this reality.

Our embrace should be entirely focused on the power of love … and as for the love of power … we need to be diligent to resist this altogether.

Our aim is that everything that is seen in us would reflect the essence of Christlikeness. We are not looking for models or new methodologies … but rather we are fully abandoned to Christ and seek only for all of Him.

It is the power of love that always prevails … and it is the love of power that always fails!

Once this has been firmly established in our hearts, we can then begin to focus on nurturing and developing the second part of this powerful reality.

Leading From The Front And Living Faithful Through It All … Is The Most Desired Position For Us To Assume

The completing component for us to take on is the challenge to live faithful through it all.

In his article, “What Does the Bible Say about Leadership?” Michael Lee Stallard makes this point for us, Jesus reinforced the importance of connection to Him. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5,8)

Intimate relational connection with Christ is paramount for us. In staying connected we will experience real life in Him. The moment connection is compromised, we are at great risk. We are prone to go our own way, to lose the touch of His presence and the tenderness of His Spirit speaking to us. It is only in intimate relational connection that we can remain in Him and know the joy of reaching others.

Michael’s article goes on to say that in addition to intimate relational connection we will also need to know the covering of complete unity.

_Jesus prayed to the Father: “My prayer is not for them (the disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity.” (John 17:20-23)

When we can live with the covering of complete unity we will know the fullest expression of all that God is and experience Him in a truly life-changing manner … and we will be empowered to share this on with others.

Leading From The Front And Living Faithful Through It All … Is The Most Desired Position For Us To Assume

There is no doubt that this is where the Father would destine us to be and thus it truly must be our greatest desire.

Leading from the front and living faithful through it all …
is the most decisive position to prove our intentionality
is the most determined position to adequately express our engagement
is the most declarative position for reinforcing our integrity and influence

All of this is ours … and in saying yes, we gain everything!

I know I am in … and you?

–Terry–

2021 THEME

In Every Chaotic, Confusing Situation, His Clarifying Word Will Always Be Spoken … Capture It!