What Makes a Leader?

One who is said to be a disciple is known to be a follower of Christ, but in reality a disciple ultimately is one who The Lord wants to lead his people. For in Matt 5:13-16: it says “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 NIV)

Jesus clearly declared we are to be different and to take on the roles of a head (leader), while the world would be the tails (Deut. 28:13). But the ironic thing about what he commanded was that our norm from infancy is that we were to be taken care of (fed, clothed, cared, and changed) by someone older and in charge. But after a few years, that same individual who before couldn't have made it without that mother/father figure is now desirous of being independent: cooking, cleaning, and choosing which way they're going to live their lives.

Though we were reared with the intentions of needing someone, we were also created with the expectations of becoming self-supportive and a future leader. In our complex DNA, it had seeds of initial reliance, then independence, but also an internal dependence upon our Heavenly Father, no matter who or what we do.

(Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want)

This is what the psalmist was trying to tell us in this great psalm; how there's no lack in God, and how he has everything that we need. He even leads us when he sees us going the wrong direction which could cause chaos by still waters (v2). And he will also renew us when he sees our mind, will, and emotions=SOUL damaged; for the psalmist said he'll restores our soul (v3) , with his transforming power.

Everything we will become God did it. So let's give him honor and glory this month, as we spend more time with him in this month of fasting and prayer knowing that the more time we spend with him, the more we will take on his image and likeness as leaders and change agents in this world. (…26Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."…)

Time to LEAD

Kirkland Smith

Sr. Pastor of Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch