Lead, follow or get out of the way! (part two)

Author and speaker Ken Davis gave a message at a conference with three points that I will never forget.  He suggested that we can live life with nothing too hide, nothing to lose, and nothing to prove.  The parallels between his talk and the opening verse of Jude are amazing.

Too often we wear masks to hide our identity.  What is it that we want to keep hidden?  That we are sinners in need of a saviour?  That we are incredibly inadequate?  Both are true and part of being human.  Yet we lose sight of who we are in Christ!  Our true identity was lost in the fall.  Think about (but don’t visualize this) Adam was naked in the garden.  As far as he was concerned that was no problem.  Eve likewise had nothing to hide until they ate from the forbidden fruit.  Then what did they do?  They covered themselves and hid from God!  It is in sin that we feel the need to hide our identity.  Yet if we are a new creation as scripture tells us, we have nothing to hide.  Our sinful nature tells us that we are unacceptable, weak, miserable little nothings.  Yet scripture tells us that we are made in the image of God and once we come into a relationship with God that image begins to be restored.  To explore this further, look at Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:26; Romans 13:14; Philippians 1:6; and Colossians 1:27.

Do you know that most of the world lives to some extent in fear of losing things?  Not car keys mind you, but we fear losing loved ones, jobs, money, popularity, or our status in our world. Nothing seems secure in this world.  Change seems to be the only constant and it leaves us filled with anxiety and fear.  Security is a major issue and God knows that!   Why else does 1 Peter 5:7 say Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (see also Philippians 4:6 ; Psalm 55:22 and Proverbs 3:5-6)  However, in the western world we work hard at building a future for ourselves.  Who would not want to be financially independent?  We want assurance that everything will turn out fine.  In reality God wants us to depend on Him rather than our brains, good looks, health, jobs, abilities or whatever gifts and good things we have.  I am not suggesting that we shirk our responsibility and live careless lives thinking that God will take care of everything.  I do think that we don’t easily come to grips with the idea that God is to be our source of security and everything else is subject to change.  What occurs when we place our security in God is that we can do everything to His glory and not worry about the outcome.  We can give life our best and know that God will take care of the rest.

Too many people in this world are out to prove something.  In doing so, they hope to validate their existence and put meaning into their lives.  Often this process operates so deep within us that we are unaware of what is motivating us.  If we are seeking the approval of a pastor, parent or peer, then that guides our purpose in life.  In the end it may lead to disappointment or to great success for the wrong reason.  Many famous people have been driven by such motivation and achieved greatness in their fields.  The risk though is that once we achieve the goals, we may find that it did not prove anything or gain the approval that we were seeking.  In other words, it was not satisfying.  Galatians 1:10 suggests that we should not be seeking the approval of others but seeking to serve the Lord.  It is He who gives our lives meaning and purpose.  What is that purpose?  Jesus explains it in his summary of the law (Luke 10:27) and in the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).  Bear in mind that there is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less than he does already.  God gives us purpose in the context of our relationship with him!  (Romans 8:28)

Several years ago, as a birthday treat, I took my son to a pottery to work with clay.  The potter who guided us through the experience explained that every clay pot created on the wheel must be balanced and centered before it is shaped.  Otherwise it will collapse before it is finished.  A friend in ministry commented to me once about the importance of leading from the “quiet” within us.  What is it about natural leaders that cause people want to follow them?  It is a secure inner being that people can’t see but sense that it is there.  It is a confidence without arrogance, a confidence that comes from a source unseen.  Too often we see people trying to lead out of weakness or our human nature…  Centeredness is having our lives in perspective before God. It is knowing that we are loved, kept and called by God. Out of this identity, security, and purpose comes a leader who is ready to influence others for Christ.   Centering comes from time in solitude, study, worship, community, and ministry.  It comes only when we have a Biblical perspective of who we are in Christ.

We need to know who we are!  Having a grasp of our identity in relationship to God allows us to lead others.  Without it, we are seeking to be someone that we are not.  Spend some time reflecting on John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 5:19; and Galatians 3:26-27.

We need to find our security in our relationship with Christ!  Imagine a life without fears or anxiety!  It’s a stretch for many.  As we move toward that though we find real freedom. Revisit Psalm 55:22 Proverbs 3:5-6 and 1 Peter 5:7.

We need to live out our meaning and purpose!  The question then remains… what is my purpose?  We find it in two specific commands. (Luke 10:27 and Matthew 28:18-20)

Without coming to grips with our identity, our security, and our purpose we are tempted to seek popularity or power.  We want to be liked more than be effective as leaders or we desire control.  We may even be clueless as to why we are leading people in the first place.  It becomes all about us rather than all about God!  What happens when we understand these truths?  Jude 2 says that mercy, peace, and love are ours in abundance.  Does that not sound like the sort of leader who will be a blessing in the midst of crisis?  Jude knows that alone we cannot do much.  With God’s help we can be leaders of influence. This magnificent epistle ends with these words… To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen