Dec 26

Hebrews 13:7 (NIV84) — 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Woe, hoe, wait a minute here. Does this mean what I think it means? Yep! Leaders are expected to live a life of EXAMPLE that can be IMITATED! People are supposed to continue to think about the way a leader conducts their lives and conduct themselves in the same way. I don’t know about you, but that scares me! I would like people to work as hard as I do, to care as much as I do, to own the ministry of the Kingdom as much as I do, to love worship as much as I do and so on…, but there are things about me that I would like everyone to forget! Seriously, my manner of life isn’t always, ahhh… wonderfully godly! This is a lot of pressure here! Jesus, help me – help us!

James 3:1 (NIV84) — 1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

As if we needed more, God continues to warn us in James about being a leader who teaches. I am not sure whether the judgment will come from God or from man, but as I have experienced in ministry, it sure does come from man. There is a lot expected of me! I am under scrutiny more than most! My small mistakes get magnified and remembered and sometimes brought up again and again. It is all too much!

However when I think about the grace of God and His forbearance and love for me, I remember my call with delight. Leading is a privilege, but is not to be taken lightly. I am looked at and talked about, but I lead and teach for Jesus. How about you? The yoke of Jesus is easy and His burden is light. These verses are not BURDENS to be worn, but warnings to be heeded. We cannot take lightly, the call on our lives as leaders. We must respond to it with sincerity and wonder, in awe that God would choose us to lead anybody! He has chosen you (if you are a leader or teacher), because He sees something in you that CAN DO this and thinks you can live a life that is worthy of your calling. God believes in you! So lead, teach and live under the power and mighty working of God and leave the rest up to grace. Give your all to Him!