Who will Lead?

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

 "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." - Proverbs 10:9

He walked with his head held high, and others would look to him with an eye of inspiration and a heart filled with confidence.  He led by example, and others would rally around him to enable his dreams and vision to come to fruition.  Most wanted him to succeed, to rule and to change the way the world viewed power.  Sure, there were obstacles in his path, as with any great leader, but he was able to overcome these obstacles through the truth in his word and the passion by which he lived.

 I have often heard it said, “A leader is only a leader if others are following, otherwise, it’s just a man going for a walk.”  I recall as a child, reading of the great men of history that led armies, companies and countries with a loving but firm position of authority.  With a desire to solve the biggest problems and to bring unity where there was none, they would step out and take the lead, because they had vision and a plan to achieve that vision.  Not because they were popular, or they spoke well in front of a camera, or because they had a really cool web-site and twitter account.  No, they stood for something that others wanted, and they had enough courage to risk it all for the good of others. 

Tell me, where did those men go?  Where are the heroes that we can look up to and dream of becoming?  Look at the leaders of our world today, where is the integrity, where is the truth and the justice, where is the servants heart?  I see no leadership in our world today and I fear for our children.  There was a day when one could look to our Government, CEO’s, Pastors, teachers, coaches, journalists and parents as people with integrity.  More and more frequently though we are hearing of the corruptness, the scandal and the self-righteousness that breeds deceit and dishonesty.  Hardships will befall all mankind as we look inward and live our lives with blinders on, focused uniquely on ourselves.

It is so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of the media blitz today and take sides based on their biasness without seeking the truth behind the propaganda.  We want more and more information, with the intent of making better decisions with more information.  But consider the fact that the data and information you are provided is made available to you with the full intent of manipulating your thoughts and mind into a preconceived decision.  You are being fed information that they want you to have, you are not receiving the truth and or the fullness you need to become educated in these manners.  You believe you can trust the information your given because deep inside you want to believe that the people providing the information have integrity and are non-biased truthful individuals.  But this is not reality.

Where do you turn?  Turn to the creator – the maker of heaven and earth and realize that this world cannot influence or change the truth that exists therein.  God is sovereign over all things, including your dreams, desires and fears for your future.  Your hero’s should be steep in faith, love and conviction from the Holy Spirit, for in following Him there is no unrighteousness, no untruths or deceit.  The truth the Jesus Christ gave us while with us on this earth are forever etched in history as the perfect example of a man of integrity and worthy of following.  None since, nor none before had lived a life flawless and filled with peace, love and a servant’s heart willing to give everything He had to pursue the vision of His Father.  He led people in that day and ever since with the platform of truth, conviction, honesty and love.  Quit looking at the news or the web for the latest scoop or scandal, and delve into the book that was provided by our Father to give you the direction you lead.  It will guide you down the path that is straight and narrow.

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
For an archive of Daily Thoughts go to: http://www.10minutereader.com

A Leader Serves

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It with your friends

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” –Mark 10:45

 There is something dynamic, exciting, appealing and magnetic about some people.  They draw others to themselves simply in the way they carry themselves during stressful and turbulent times.  Have you ever had a boss, a teacher or a leader that you would follow no matter what, even to the ends of the earth?  It is often stated that the cornerstone of great leadership is to serve.  Give back to those that are following and support their needs in a manner that demonstrates their relevance and importance in the vision.  Everyone wants to contribute in a meaningful way if and only if they see a vision and direction that is worth following.  To lead takes a special character, someone who is willing to take the back seat for the benefit of the group as a whole.  Traditionally, it is someone with humility and a selfless attitude that can put the needs of others before their own.  Think about those that you have followed in your past and ask yourself who was the most influential and genuine in their practice.  I propose to you, if you carefully thought about their style and approach it would have a flavor of one with a heart to serve.

Throughout time there have been countless  books, tapes and DVDs about leadership.  I point to two well known authors: John C. Maxwell and Ken Blanchard.  Each have books focusing on the art of leadership and successful leadership in the 21st century.  Both fundamentally will point to a single thread that ties their quilt of advice and mentorship together and that is to serve those that follow.   In Ken’s book, The Secret, he outlines that the secret to leadership is simple, “great leaders serve their followers”.  He then portrays the word SERVE as an acrostic:
    See the future
    Engage and develop others
    Reinvent continuously
    Value results and relationships
    Embody the values

Jesus Christ asked others to, ”Follow me” and they did.  Twelve ordinary men gave up everything they had and followed after this man who in turn promised them nothing in this world.  Jesus spent His brief ministry serving mankind.  Through his actions of love, humility and forgiveness, He spent His time nurturing those who followed Him.  He painted a vision and a perspective of the future that entailed a Kingdom under the one and only God Almighty.  He built trust and loyalty through His loving abundance and willingness to lighten their load and carry their burdens.  One quote from Jesus comes from, Matthew 20:16, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. “  Here, we find Jesus clearly stating that the first (Leader) must come after the last (follower). 

Most will think of Jesus act of washing the disciple’s feet (at the Last Supper) as the ultimate level of service, and by human standards they would be accurate in this assessment.  But, let us keep in mind that Jesus was not being judged by human standards.  He was held to a much higher calling.  He was living up to the perfection of God the Father in His life on earth.  As the Son of God, the ultimate act of serving others came when He suffered and lovingly carried His cross to Calvary and allowed them to drive the nails through His flesh, and place a crown of thorns upon His head.  He did this not for His gain, but for ours.  In an unbelievable, selfless act of dying on that cross He entered into a covenant with God the Father for the souls of mankind forever more.  He did this so that those who likewise picked up their cross and followed him would be ushered into eternity in the last of days.  Serving others is a direct request of the Lord himself, “Come enter in Heaven….For whatever you have done for the least of these, you did unto Me”  and likewise in condemnation to the others, “Depart from me . . . Whenever you neglected to do unto the least of these, you likewise neglected to do unto Me.”  We are asked to “Love one another as I have loved you.”  This is the embodiment of Jesus’ servant’s heart.  He loved us all the way to the grave, to ensure that we would find salvation through Him. 

The question then becomes, “Are you willing to follow Him?”

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://www.10minutereader.com