Take a moment to think about the world’s most powerful leaders. What words come to mind?

Ambition? Passion? Determination? Ruthlessness?

What about humility?

We don’t often equate successful leadership with humility—at least, not by the world’s standards. The world tells us that in order to lead, you need to put yourself first, show that you’re better than the rest, and strive for the top—even if that means alienating a few people along the way.

But the leadership modeled by Jesus Christ shows us a much different approach. The apostle Paul describes it this way in his letter to the Philippians:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8

Christ chose to live and lead through a posture of humility. Let’s unpack these verses.

• Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped” (v. 6). Another translation reads that Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage” (NIV, 2011). It’s important to note that Jesus did not set aside his divinity when he lived on earth. He was fully God and fully human. However, Jesus chose to pursue obedience to God, rather than equality with God. Jesus did not flaunt or abuse his power.
• Jesus “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (v. 7). Jesus did not set himself up as a king when he lived on this earth. Quite the opposite—he came to serve. In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Think of the many days that Jesus served people from early in the morning to late at night—healing, teaching, feeding, driving out demons. Crowds gathered around him. People clamored for his attention. It must have been exhausting! But he did not put his needs first; he served day after day after day.
• Jesus became “in human likeness” (v. 7). Becoming human was the only way that Jesus could carry out God’s plan of salvation. But what an act of humility for the Son of God to put on flesh—to experience pain, hunger, temptation, and limitation.
• Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (v. 8). Jesus’ ultimate act of humility was shown on the cross. In humility our Saviour and our leader put God’s will above his own.*

Matthew 26:39

Far too often our human nature gets in the way of pursuing a Christ-like attitude of humility and obedience. This is especially true of leaders! We can get addicted to feelings of self-importance and the rush of receiving praise for our accomplishments. But these desires lead us away from God and away from the true leadership model of Jesus Christ.

True leadership humbly submits to the True Leader.

True leadership embraces its humanity and limitations.

True leadership takes on a posture of servanthood.

True leadership stays faithful to its mission, no matter the cost.

Have you thought about your leadership motivations lately? What’s standing in your way of pursuing Christ-like humility and obedience?

As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs: the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength each one appears before God in Zion.” Psalm 84:6-7

I love to run. Maybe it’s more accurate to write that I love how I feel when I run. I love how running clears my mind and quiets my soul. I register for races because I need motivation. Then, I question my sanity. Why did I register? Why did I join with a friend? Now, I can’t back out. Then, I remember my goal. The discomfort of training is worth the glory of finishing with a strong body and mind.

Race day dawns with excitement. The crowd cheers, the gun explodes, and thousands of feet hit the pavement. Soon that fades, and I’m left in the race just putting one foot in front of the other. I am tempted to quit, but my friend encourages me. She wants to stop, so I support her. Every stride brings us closer to the finish. Our strength and determination increase as we overcome difficulty and exhaustion. Mental fatigue lessens. Soon, cheering people line the streets again. The prize is in sight.

Note the pronouns in Psalm 84: 6-7. They go through the valley… they make it a place of springs… they go from strength to strength. THEY. Plural. In the utter exhaustion of ministry, when logic dictates we should quit, when it makes no sense to get back up and keep putting one foot in front of the other, God designed us to draw strength from one another. I stumble, and you steady my feet. The weak collapse, so the strong carry them. When despair hits hard, we collectively worship our way through the Valley of Baca. Our eyes fix on the finish: standing before the Lord.

Barnes Notes on the Bible calls Psalm 84:

…a beautiful illustration of the life of Christian pilgrims – of the bands of the redeemed – as they journey on toward the end of their course. By prayer and praise and mutual counsel, by their songs, by the fact that difficulties are surmounted, leaving fewer to be overcome, and that the journey to be traveled is diminishing constantly – by the feeling that they are ever drawing nearer to the Zion of their home, they increase in strength, they become more confirmed in their purposes, they bear trials better, they overcome difficulties more easily, they walk more firmly, they tread their way more cheerfully and triumphantly.

Barnes notes on the Bible

Community is a gift. You do not have to endure your valleys alone, yet too often ministry leaders and wives believe the lie that we do. I urge you to find your people. Find the community—online or in person—that will remind you the joy and pleasure found in God’s presence far exceeds troublesome ministry valleys. God’s presence is worth it.

• Who am I at the grocery store, on the golf course or with my family?
• Am I that same person that’s professing Gods love and truth while I’m on the platform?
• Am I honest when a cashier makes a mistake and I owe more money but conveniently forget to tell her?
• Do I return the shopping carts?
• Do I leave unwanted groceries in the wrong aisles?

Those are only some of the many questions that as leaders we need to ask ourselves.

Because as Christian leaders, our integrity is everything.

When we teach a Bible Study, speak from a platform or lead in any capacity, our lives become an open book. People are curious about leaders. I think they want to know what unique encounters and life skills they have developed to make them a leader. Numerous times I’ve had women come up to me and say: “I’ve been watching you for years.” Yes, that knocks the wind right out of me. It’s a harsh reality to recognize that as we’re leading we’re being watched. And leading means that we are representing the character and image of our Heavenly Father. That’s a high standard and calling. One that we cannot take lightly.

Representing our Heavenly Father is a high calling.

When I first became a Christian I lived a double life. One life of a mother, wife and professional who sometimes did and said things behind closed doors that I did not want the world to see. Yet on Sunday morning and Bible studies I was the one with the big pearly, white tooth smile with not a care in the world. But over the years heartache and tragedy have wiped the duplicity out of my life and I don’t have the energy to be two people. Now what you see is what you get.

I’ve also come to realize that I reflect the beauty and glory of my Heavenly Father. The Bible states it clearly:

I have given them the glory that you gave me” (John 17:22).

Wow, that can make your heart pound can’t it? It crystalizes the fact that whatever I do, and wherever I go, I represent the love, kindness, grace, mercy, peace and forgiveness of our Glorious Heavenly Father.

In the early years of my Christianity, once I recognized my duplicate life, I wore a cross on my coat lapel. For years, every time I felt the urge to be unkind, I touched that cross and it reminded me that the situation was not about me, but about representing the King of King and Lord of Lords.

So we do have to ask ourselves a lot of questions.

• How am I representing the Lord of all Creation?
• Am I honouring Him by my behaviour and actions?
• When I encounter people will they know without a doubt that I have the qualities of Jesus Christ?
• Will my behaviour make a Kingdom difference? When I leave that room or event, will I leave the fragrance of Christ?

As leaders these questions need answers. What is one thing you need to bring out from behind closed doors so that you don’t live a life of duplicity?

The lines on my face don’t bother me nearly as much as the lines on my soul. Sometimes insomnia plagues me and I often lie awake in dawns early light asking God far too many questions yet not pausing long enough for answers. Waiting is a difficult burden to bear.

It seems it is not within our human nature to cultivate a healthy relationship with waiting. No matter how hard we try, we still seem to worry, ponder, and ruminate far too often than we should on situations and circumstances of life that we can not control. We live in an instant gratification culture that is conditioned to receiving what we desire in a matter of moments. Packages still show up on our doorsteps in an ice storm, groceries get delivered to our car after we click a few buttons, and telemarketers call every week offering us internet that is faster than the speed we had the week before. We don’t seem to struggle with much in our first-world culture. Though there always seems to be an exception to every rule of life: we struggle with the ability to let go and let God… be God.

Psalm 27:14,

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

We are well aware that the scriptures encourage us to wait. Everyone seemed to wait for everything and anything that was of value to their character development and purpose. As leaders, more often than not the answers and guidance we wait for is not just for us but for the body of Christ that we serve. But know this truth: the pressure and war between our flesh and spirit to fulfill the ache that dwells within our soul is a fight worth fighting… and fighting well.

In the Hebrew language, the word wait is translated a qavah and it means to wait, hope for, look, and expect.

Perhaps if we changed the very words we speak, we will create a new and powerful weapon with our mouths and lead with the language of our heart. Instead of using the word wait, we can use the word hope. Or look. Expect.

I am hoping on the Lord. I am looking to the Lord. I am expecting of the Lord.

We may not wait so well in our human nature, but our spirit knows no bounds when we hope, look, and expect that our King will lead us through the wilderness to witness the peak of the mountain top we are seeking.

Maybe it’s my age. But I really enjoyed our family Christmas celebration this year!

First of all, we were all together – something of a feat in these times.

I caught snatches of conversations:

• a young lady just coming out of some personal struggles of her own, choosing to spend time talking with her Grandmother, in spite of Nana’s hearing loss.
• an uncle encouraging a niece to ‘keep fighting the good fight’, as she deals with ungodly worldviews at university.

I was grateful for a strong mature man, seeing & responding to the needs of the older & weak-er among us, with patience and grace.

• Our daughters, who each I know carry personal burdens, yet regularly bless others.
• Our youngest granddaughter lovingly made home-made treats for her Grandpa.
• A couple of my issues were solved: an overworking furnace / an uncooperative iPad.

These were some snatches from our family-time this year. I woke up the next morning with a heart full of gratefulness!

FAMILY – one of the major themes at Christmastime.

Then, this morning, this verse jumped out at me:

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family, by bringing us to himself through Je-sus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5 NLT)

I’m thankful that I learned about God’s love and desire to adopt me! God’s family includes some from every corner of the world. We’re a family of stronger ones who carry responsibility to help some weaker ones, of younger ones who bring joy to the hearts of the aged ones among us… – we’re a family!

Many times I wonder in amazement about us giving our Father ‘great pleasure’, as this verse says. Really? Surely He sees the stupid, even hurtful things we do at times. But just as a parent’s heart is full of joy watching their little one grow, and just as a parent doesn’t save their child from every difficulty knowing they need to develop strength of character, so our Fa-ther brought us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and continues to cherish his children!

Here’s a verse to snuggle in with:
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family …
this is what he wanted to do.”

Amazing! But so Wonderful!