Leadership

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness (Psalm 5:8).

What makes a good leader?

A good leader needs to have courage.  As soon as you advocate some course of action, voices will be raised in protest.  There will be critics and prophets of doom.  There will be people who hate change, and will do whatever it takes to slow things down.  A leader needs courage to face opposition and make sure that the job gets done.

A good leader needs to be patient and understanding.  When a committee gathers together in meeting, there are a lot of different opinions.  A good leader takes the time to listen. A good leader works with each committee member personally.  A good leader wins respect by how he treats the people that follow him.

Most importantly, a good leader needs to inspire.  A good leader needs to have big ideas.  A good leader needs to convince others that nothing worth achieving is impossible.  President Kennedy inspired a moon landing.  Dr. Martin Luther King inspired the Civil Rights Movement.  Great leaders dream big, and sweep us along in their vision for the future.  Great leaders need great words. 

The greatest leader of all was a man like no other.  He did not back down when the religious leaders criticized Him or when a corrupt politician threatened Him.  He had the courage to face Satan and death to achieve His goals.  This leader showed great patience in dealing with His followers.  He took the time to listen whenever someone came to Him for help.  This great man had a dream like no other, the goal of changing every corrupt sinner into a forgiven child of God.  He has inspired billions of people over thousands of years with His vision for a better world.

I’m speaking, of course, about Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man.  His great courage ended the power of Satan to drag you screaming into hell.  He is patient with each and every one of us, more patient than we deserve.  He speaks the very words of God, words that have the power to change lives forever.  More than anyone, He is worth following.