What is leadership?
What makes an exceptional leader?
Oxford dictionary defines leadership as: (n) the action of leading a group of people or an organization.
While I was at training camp I was selected to be a team leader. Honestly, I was taken by surprise. Nothing had really lead me to believe that I would be selected. But when I found out, I was super excited. I knew God was calling me into that position. However, after I accepted the position I had a mild freak out. Thoughts rushing in like, “You’re not qualified.” “You lack follow through.” “You’re not eloquent enough.” “You have trouble expressing yourself.” But during this small freak out, God reminded me a verse he showed me quite a few years ago. It comes from Exodus chapter 4 verse 11-12.
“The Lord said to Him (Moses), ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and teach you what to say.’”
This brought me so much peace. I serve the Creator of the universe, and He created me! If I walk with Jesus and let him be in control, there is nothing I won’t be able to accomplish through Him! Praise Jesus!
I have been reading books on leadership, trying to become the best leader I can be for my team. It can be overwhelming trying to cultivate qualities of an exceptional leader. But something I read from my squad leader Laura hit the nail on the head. A leader is someone “who leads out of humility and dependence on Jesus instead of [their] own strength.” I tend to get carried away in the details and trying to be perfect, that I forget that I just need to depend on Christ for everything. For every single decision I make. His way is always right.
I was reading a commentary on the book of Luke this past year by Charles Swindoll called Swindoll’s New Testament Insights: Insights on Luke. In unpacking verse 39-40 of chapter 6, there is much about spiritual leadership. Swindoll writes,
“…spiritual leaders lead by example, not by self-appointed and self-proclaimed authority. Jesus is the only authority, our sole exemplar, our only true teacher. Leaders in God’s kingdom lead others by their own discipleship. Unlike teachers in the world, who stand before their followers, facing them on the basis of their own authority, kingdom-of-Christ leaders lead with their backs to their followers in submission to, and in steadfast pursuit of, the Teacher” (161).
This is my commitment. I want to be in steadfast pursuit of the Teacher, so He will direct my every move, my every thought. Christ will make me into the leader He wants me to be if I submit myself to Him.
