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“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”
~ Roselyn Carter
My friend, John Maxwell, often reminds us that if you want to test your leadership, just turn around and see who is following you. Those leaders who have no one following them are just out for a walk. As I looked at my leadership and noticed the hundreds of people who have chosen to ‘follow my leadership’ through my local ministry, my web-based leadership training and my personal prayer partners, I was humbled by God’s goodness.
Jesus’ life and ministry demonstrates how important it is to lead people. Looking at his ministry we note that there was a core of people who followed and supported Jesus …
Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities–Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. Luke 8:1-3 (NKJV)
We become like Jesus when …
o We enjoy the company of a small group of committed friends to journey with us in the completion of our mission and passion.
Jesus was surrounded by ‘the twelve’ – men who had forsaken all to follow Jesus. These men demonstrate Jesus’ quality of leadership – they followed because they believed the man and his mission were more important that their own lives and pursuits.
You will also notice that there was a core group of women who had experienced the life-changing work of Jesus’ ministry in their lives. These women ‘bought into’ the ministry in two key ways … they followed Jesus and they supported him financially.
Leadership is all about followers. Jesus shows us how to gain a following by focusing on a mission greater than the lives of those we minister to. When that mission impacts a life in a monumental manner, another follower is born!
© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith
