Who are you Leading?

Image by MartinPhotoSport via Flickr

We are all leading somebody.

Whether you think of yourself as a leader or not, if somebody is looking to you - if somebody is following you - if somebody is being influenced by you, you're leading. Congratulations!!
You have just been promoted to Leadership!

And with that comes responsibility. Jesus said that we are light and salt. Light is not meant to be hidden under a table, and salt that is not used eventually loses its flavour and worth. So how does that affect the way I live my life? We can live thoughtlessly and indifferent to the fact that somebody out there is watching us ALL of the time - this could be due to a host of reasons. Not wanting the role (sorry too late, already gottit!). Selfishness - this is my life and I will live it my way (sorry, but if you have surrendered "your" life to Jesus Christ, it no longer belongs to you). Cluelessness - just not realising the difference that you do and can make in the lives of those of others (no more excuses after reading this :-p).

So how do we embrace this thing called leadership? Instead of fighting it or resenting it, let's do just that - embrace it. See it as a gift from God - whether you are leading one person (maybe that 2 year old that calls you in the middle of the night) - or a host of people. If in addition to being a leader, you have the special added "gift" of leadership - seen in the amazing ability to just draw people wherever you go, finding yourself being thrust into leadership without necessarily asking for it...embrace it! It is a gift - you didn't do anything to earn it, you just are - so enjoy it - make the most of it, lead well!

It all really boils down to one thing. Doesn't matter whether we carry the title or not - if we are children of the living God - we represent Him. We have His Spirit inside of us - we are made in His Image. When people see us, they are seeing our Father.

Let's live our lives "on purpose" - purposeful God-honouring lives.
Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith - on purpose.
Purposing to run the particular race God has set before us.
Purposing to influence as many people along the way with the LIGHT and TRUTH that lives inside of us - bringing with us Hope and Blessing.
Purposing to live lives that proclaim the Gospel (good news) of God's love, goodness and grace wherever we go.
Leading ourselves to follow Him - "on purpose".

And never forgetting. That with the call... to lead, to be salt and light, comes the Grace (unearned, unmerited favour - doing for you what you cannot do for yourself) to do it.

So don't resent it. Embrace it. Shine!