March 11: GOD DIDN'T GIVE YOU INFLUENCE SO YOU'D LEAD PEOPLE BETTER;

Affirmation: Just because the water is calm, doesn’t mean there aren’t alligators 🐊. 

This is a reminder to be wise, aware and discerning.

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Ponder: As you memorize Psalm 25:5-6, think about the prayer of David in Psalm 25. Go to Psalm 25 and read all 22 verses as you ponder this passage. What strikes you about God? About yourself?

”Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.“ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭5‬-‭6 

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

March 11

GOD DIDN'T GIVE YOU INFLUENCE SO 

YOU'D LEAD PEOPLE BETTER; HE GAVE 

IT SO YOU'D LOVE PEOPLE MORE. 

You, my brothers and sisters, we’re called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 

GALATIANS 5:13 

 

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if Jesus wrote a book on leadership? The title might be something like “The Greatest Among You Shall Be the Least” or “Don't Worry About It.” Companies would have to invert all their org charts. The CEO would get a mop and bucket, and the janitor would get a corner office and maybe a jet. That's not the message you see in bookstores though. There are books about how to be more influential, make more money, innovate more quickly, manage more effectively. None of this is wrong. In fact, much good can come from organized, focused efforts. Here's the deal though. You can sum up leadership books with one phrase: Here's how you crush it. But even though Jesus was the most influential person to ever live, I don't think He would write that book. Here's why: God didn't give you influence so you'd lead people better. He gave it to you so you'd love people more. 

 

Jesus' model for leadership was more interested in us laying our lives down for our friends than increasing the number of people who admire us from afar. Be famous with your family and friends. Leave the building of platforms to painters. Jesus was a carpenter who never cared about them. Any influence we've been given isn't meant to increase the size of our audience. It's so we can welcome even more people into the experience of God's love. 

The best leaders don't care whether they're in positions of power. They don't care about their stats on social media or the praise they receive from people who follow them. They love without distraction or distinction and find their reward in the celebration of love rather than by chasing the approval of others. Of course they want to encourage people, because they love big and want that love to spread. But they're in it for others, not for their own egos. 

If you find yourself in knots about whether you're leading people in the right direction, just look at whether you're the chief servant. If you're the big cheese, take a breath. Figure out how to become more downwardly mobile. Great leaders don't have time to think about themselves because they're too busy scheming ways to love other people and lift them up. Who can you do this for today? Blow their minds. Give them your office, maybe even your car. It'll sound crazy right up until you do it. 

What kind of leader are you?