We Can Only Take Others as Far as We Have Been

One concept of leadership that I believe wholeheartedly is that a leader cannot expect their team to do things that they themselves have not or are not willing do. If a leader is asking someone to sweep the area, they should have at some point or be willing to sweep the area themselves. As a spiritual leader the goal is to lead others to God’s agenda and a right relationship with Him. If your relationship is not there, then you would not be able to lead someone there.

A bit more should be explained. As a spiritual leader, it is our ultimate goal to lead someone to spiritual maturity in relationship with God. This was laid out to us in scripture:

“⁴You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” – Exodus 19:4 (ESV)

Here the LORD tells the people, through Moses, that the destination is not a place but God Himself. It is not about a physical location that spiritual leaders take someone or an organization, it is a relationship with God. One that is deep and complete. Dependent and thankful.

I have been a Christian for about 40 years and I I am working every day to grow in my relationship with the LORD. I am praying daily, studying discipleship, and doing additional bible study. Yet, I still need to pray more, witness more, and memorize more scripture. My relationship with the LORD is the journey I am on and I will not fully know Him until I arrive in heaven, but I can continue to grow closer to Him every day.

In my growth and as I grow, I can also lead others to meet me there. As a spiritual leader, I am bringing others along with me to meet the LORD. They can walk alongside me, even run with me. Together we can grow. There is no need to “sell” God’s agenda, I am here to share it and inspire others to find out for themselves and join me on the journey.

What is your view of leading others to a destination? Are you expecting that without knowing God yourself, you will be able to lead someone to Him? What if you were to first focus on your relationship with God and then just brought others along with you on the journey?

Big Moments with God

Paul experienced an extremely big moment with God in his conversion. God revealed Himself in the form of a great light even in the midst of the mid-day sun. In this reveal, Jesus appointed this persecutor, Paul, to be His servant in the spreading of the gospel to all the people. For me, I have not had this overtly big moment as most would see it. But, I have had my big moment, surrounded by smaller moments that keep me moving forward.

In my bible study this morning, I continue looking at spiritual leadership and have come upon the lesson of “Encounters with God”. Henry and Richard Blackaby tell the story of Dwight L. Moody’s big moment and then ask for the review of Paul’s big moment to set the mind looking for your own. After reflection, my big moment was my ordination as deacon to the church. This was not something that I was looking for, nor even expected to come for Lori and me. We had been very active in the church in service from leading the music for worship all the way to leading many classes for children and youth. God wanted more for us and He sent the church to enlist us in that work. And our lives have been filled with the joy of doing His work ever since. From serving in multiple areas in the church to this blog/writing, we continue to impact through the work the LORD has for us.

It is not always the overt big moments that Paul experienced where we have those life changing encounters with God. They may be a bit more subtle and take some reflection to realize they have happened and the worth they have in our lives. I believe that as spiritual leaders, it is important to reflect on the influence of God in our lives to realize those encounters and see the impact. I have to remember to look back at where God revealed Himself to me. I have to look at the condition of my heart and my relationship with Him at the time to get back there to lead me to more opportunities for encounters with Him.

“Spiritual leadership flows out of a person’s vibrant, intimate relationship with God.” – Henry & Richard Blackaby

What are your big moments with God? Are you even aware that you have had them? What if you reflect and find that or those big moments, realize your heart and relationship to Him and get back to that place to experience even more encounters with Him?

Who Can Be Righteous

Anyone.

“¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” – Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)

Paul lays it out simply for all. Salvation is for everyone. Faith is the difference. Those who accept the gift of salvation and live by faith shall be righteous. I know that seems to good to be true. But it is. There is no hidden meaning. There is no cryptic approach. Accept salvation and live by faith to be righteous.

There is a thing that we must consider though. All is by the acceptance and living in our heart and not on the surface or to ensure that others have heard and know. The only one who needs to know is the LORD and that will be exclaimed through our relationship and communication with Him. In our relationship, we have the opportunity to speak with the LORD and know Him. It is in these communications (prayer) that we find our tasks to spread the gospel and do the work of Christ. It is in this relationship that we reveal our hearts to God and He sees and knows our faith in Him.

Righteousness is not for the Jews or the Baptists or the Catholics. It is for all who accept the salvation gift from God and live by faith in Him and in actions He tasks. It is offered and for everyone that will accept and live in their heart and demonstrate that through the relationship and communication with the LORD.

Who do you believe can or is righteous? Are you of the opinion that one somehow has to be special or of a certain group? What if you were to see that it is anyone who accepts the gift of salvation and lives by faith through their heart?

Gift of Physical Relationship and/or None

Lori and I have been married for what will be 27 years in just a few weeks. We have enjoyed our time together as partners and are looking forward to the next 27 years. Where our time together has not been without its challenges, we are still in love with one another and continue to grow closer. And our closeness includes our physical relationship as well. We are certainly giving fully of one another to the other.

“³The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” — 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 (ESV)

I do not want to get too deep into the weeds here of our physical relationship other than to say that we are happy to be there for one another. Our physical relationship is a gift that we accept and are thankful for.

This is not to say that being celibate is not without its goodness either. Paul was celibate for the duration of his ministry and counted it a gift as well. Paul was fully devoted to the LORD and counted himself blessed to do so.

“⁶Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. ⁷I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. ⁸To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.” — 1 Corinthians 7:6-8 (ESV)

Paul is content with the lack of human physical relationships as he is fully committed to the relationship with Christ. He makes it clear that where this is the life for him, he fully understands that the gift of celibacy for him may not be such a gift for others and where it is not, then the physical relationship should be sought, but only under the guise of marriage.

Both the physical relationship with a spouse, and/or celibacy are a gift to be celebrated. Whereas Lori and our marriage is a gift from God, our physical relationship is as well. Yet that is not to say that the celibate relationship with God is not a gift in and of itself. My mothers 45 year celibate relationship with God is just as beautiful as our 27 year marriage to one another.

Which gift are you enjoying today? Are you concerned that no physical relationship is somehow not as rewarding? What if you count your relationship as a gift, whether physical or not and embraced the love between you and God or you and your spouse as a gift from God?