How Does Your Level and Quality of Faithful Leadership Compare With Theirs?

It was away back in 2002 when in the World Cup soccer and football tournament the Cameroon nation ran into serious trouble when they had planned to play in sleeveless strips. The kit was ruled illegal, and the Cameroon officials somehow attached and added black sleeves to the jerseys in order that they could participate in the competition.

These were the rules and it is always a wise decision to conform to the established rules, and it is always wise too to be properly dressed.

Interestingly, the early Church of Jesus Christ did not conform to all the legalistic and rather formal religious rules and regulations. These men and women had the life of God in them and the traditions of men were simply nothing other than spiritual death.

These early disciples of Jesus depended upon God totally and they trusted in the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ. Now, that has to become out position today.

The religious authorities did not like it then and they imprisoned many of the leaders and also the people too. These were tough times for that young vibrant church of Jesus Christ. In many countries around the world things have not changed all that much, as persecution rages fiercely.

Many are quite unaware of this.

The religious authorities always want to hinder and prevent and even stop the preaching of Jesus Christ and His ability to change and rescue and save people out of their messes and sins. Why is this? There is an enemy of God who has a vested interest in halting the spread of the Gospel! Make no mistake about that and do not be confused or misled.

The leadership of the church stood up for Jesus and were courageously strong declaring that they had to obey God rather than men, and God honoured their stand. And, when we think about our dress and clothing, it is important to be wearing what the Scriptures call the robes of righteousness.

We are called to obey God before all others. That will make us different and will even cause us to stand out and stand apart from others at times. It is really the practical outworking of holiness which means 'set apart'.

People will see and be aware that we love and serve Jesus Christ more than our reputations and positions. There may even have to be some real sacrifices, and there usually are some very sore and painful sacrifices.

We were made to serve God and that requires bold leadership.

That will mean putting God first and focussing upon Jesus Christ and knowing what is in the Bible and what these pages mean today, when all around us there is greed and corruption and selfish ambition, resulting in economic collapse and financial chaos.

This is where leadership really comes into its own, and many will be looking for strong spiritual leadership more and more.

Men who are called to be true leaders will refuse to compromise and be sidetracked and diverted. Jesus Christ remained faithful to His Heavenly Father, and Peter and John and Paul remained faithful and loyal to Jesus Christ even unto death.

How does your level of leadership compare with theirs?

Sandy Shaw