Lisa Jensen
45 of 52 Voices November 19, 2014
The C3 Leaders devotion is a peer weekly reflection from business leaders related to their journey with Christ. Each weekly devotion will be written by a different author from among the C3 Leaders community.
As we go through this next year together, we pray that these words and reflections will encourage you in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
John Maxwell, a recognized authority on leadership once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” The quote speaks to three important aspects of leadership: strategy, in casting the vision; execution, in driving the mission; and role modeling, or leading others by example. In any context, the pressure to perform on all those levels is a daunting challenge!
As Christian leaders, we’re especially vulnerable to deception that in order to be a “good leader” we must be all things to all people…all the time. We look to Jesus’ example of selfless leadership and His servant’s heart for the Father’s mission, and wonder how we’ll ever hit the mark.
Well, take a breath, good and faithful servant! Even Jesus reached his earthly limit sometimes! Why should we be surprised when we struggle?
Here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect us to “do it all.” Romans 12:8 tells us, “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” This seems to convey that we all have unique and specific gifts and, as a result, unique and specific expectations of our leadership as well.
So take heart! Sacrificial leadership doesn’t mean sacrificing everything. Just as in Old Testament sacrifices, it wasn’t the giving over of the entire herd…it was offering the best of the best, the purest lamb–presented it to God in faithful obedience. Perhaps that’s the key to Godly leadership.
If you’re certain of the gifts God has given you, ask Him where and how He wants you to use them. If you’re unsure, seek His wisdom and clarity about the gifts He’s given and His expectations. Then, rest in the knowledge that you don’t need to be everything to everyone, all the time.
Consider instead the words of Jesus to His disciples when He said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
~Lisa Jensen, Vice President, Strategic Resources