The blessing when leaders lead and people follow

 “That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD! Judges 5:2 ESV

What a concept….when leaders lead…people follow.  Oh, that every leader would respond to lead uprightly.  There is much to pray in this verse.  We need to pray for the strengthening and resolve for those who lead over us.  This includes fathers to lead the family in what is right, city officials to have wisdom in the making and execution of our laws, first responders to act with lots of wisdom and justice, and educators to lead our children in good instructions and thinking.

·         Leaders step forth. The context of this verse is a song of Deborah about a victory over an enemy that had 900 iron chariots.  She asked Barak who would lead the army, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. ⁷ And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?” Judges 4:6-7 ESV.  The implication of her question revealed that God had already spoken to Barak, in which she was now reminding him “to lead”.   He was still hesitant and asked for her to join him in the battle.  We have too many complacent leaders.  Leaders need to step up to the plate and lead.

·         Leaders lead.  This requires a person speaking forth about a goal, a vision, a change in direction, or an inspiring purpose.  This means that he or she communicates to others to gather together to start something.  Leaders speak and the light of a clear path is revealed to those who are following.  A dad may say, “today, we are going to pray for our food and for our sick relatives”.  He is leading and not just hoping for good things to change.  His speaking about a new direction is leading.  Has God been speaking to you about issues that need new direction? Too much TV or internet? Starting a family devotion time?  Setting boundaries for proper rest (sleep) in the home? Communicating with your employees about your expectations and your appreciation?  Leaders lead by communicating their thoughts to others.

·         Leaders lead people.  John Maxwell said “if you think you are a leader and you look behind you and no one is there…then you are only taking a walk.”  A decision from a leader impacts the lives of the people who follow.  As Solomon asked of the Lord…give me wisdom to lead people.  He understood decisions have consequences.  Every person that you lead has value.

·         People have a choice to follow…sometimes they don’t….but when they do it willingly there is blessing.  It is a lot of fun when the whole community of people are fully “behind the project”.  The oneness and comradery of people united to complete a project or assignment is actually the byproduct of their willingness to follow the leader.  People are willing to put time and their resources toward leaders who are leading.  That is why we pray for them to lead well.

Pray for leaders to lead.  Pray that they will lead in wisdom, with  justice, with compassion, with inspiration, with boldness, with confidence, and with strength. 

Pray for people to willingly follow.  It is not weakness to come together in a united atmosphere.  Division is easy, unity is hard work, but with unity comes the blessing. 

More than Conquerors, Really?

Are you living in the reality of what it means to be “more than conquerors”

Romans 8:37-38

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced…nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Some days I don’t feel, think or even act like I am more than a conqueror.  Some days I feel as insignificant as a cubicle worker counting numbers who is soon to be replaced by the new and latest software.  Some days I feel that victory is being obtained by those who are more mature, by those who seem more connected, by those who have answers to life’s struggles, by those who have hidden their weaknesses and by those who shout the loudest, “this is the way, walk ye in it”.

So what did Paul mean when he said “we are more than conquerors”?  The word is a conjunction of two greek words huper and nikao meaning “overwhelmingly victorious.”  Nikao is from the same root word as “nike” meaning “victorious in battle”.  Makes me want to go out and buy some new shoes now that I know it is associated with being victorious all the time. 

Still, who did Paul think the foe is that we are able to more than conqueror?  For me, I would quickly think it is the battle between being good or bad, meaning the battle for personal holiness.  When I have obeyed God today….then I am victorious.  And when I choose to follow my own way, reject the voice of the Holy Spirit to resist temptation, then I am less than victorious.  So as I look back on my life, I see the seesaw of the ups and downs of victorious living….BUT

The victory that Paul is talking about is oneness that we possess of the “love of Christ”.  The battle is not about personal holiness.  It is about the overwhelming capacity of God’s love to enwrap itself around, in, and through us, so that we can never be separated from it.  We are accepted, not condemned.  The love that Christ expresses to our spirit right at this moment…is the exact same that follows us from death into eternal life.  We are not going to be “loved” more when we get to heaven.  God has already “revealed his hand” in that he expressed how much he loved us by allowing his own son, Jesus, to be crucified to death in our place.  We never, ever, have to wonder if God loves us.  He has already revealed the extent of that love.

Not only did God show us in the past that He loves us, but He wants us to know the power of that expression of love.  Which brings us back to the phrase “more than conquerors”.  The victory above victories is the ability for us to abide in the love of Jesus.  All evils, persecutions, trials, temptations or any plan of the enemy will ultimately lead us back to God’s love.  When we are attacked, and fail…we experience a deeper measure of God’s love.  When we lose the strength to endure, we are sustained by the immovable foundation of God’s love to uphold us.  The plans of the enemies actually fail, because they all lead us back to surpassing greatness of the love in Christ to not condemn us, but to afford us with full acceptance. 

In some ways this love is more than what we experienced at our conversion.  God showed the mercy of his love, by forgiving us of our past sins.  But this love that overcomes will never leave us again.  The love of God is far more stable than our thoughts and feelings.  Its depth is beyond the deepest valley of uncertainty in the very core of your spirit.  Its future impact extends all the way to your appointed meeting with Jesus at the throne of God.  God loves you!

Christ won the victory of securing you as God’s children.  As we experience and live in that love, we are “more than conquerors”.