Being a Leader in God's Kingdom
Life begins with the process of meeting your parents. They are your first leaders, guiding you as you take your initial steps on the path of life. While we won’t delve into the specifics, it’s crucial to recognize that these early leaders set the foundation for who you will become.
What’s remarkable is that everyone enters life through different doors. Some are born into safe and nurturing homes, while others begin their journey on the streets. Some have both parents by their side; others may grow up without any parental guidance. Yet, the one constant is that we all enter life.
As we grow, we accumulate different experiences, beliefs, lessons, morals, cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and so much more. These factors shape us into unique individuals, each following a distinct path. The Creator of this earth has given us the incredible ability to grow and explore life.
We start with nothing but the will to survive, moving from crawling to standing, and eventually to running. What began as a simple act of crawling, driven by a desire to move, evolves into walking, then jogging, and finally running.
Throughout this journey, you’ll make mistakes, fall down, and have to get back up countless times. But each fall is a lesson, each stumble a step towards becoming stronger and more resilient.
What is the point?
I want to emphasize the themes of Leadership, Growth, Perseverance, and the Diverse Paths people take in life. The Bible offers wisdom that reinforces these themes:
• Proverbs 22:6:
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
This verse highlights the importance of foundational lessons and guidance provided by parents and leaders, which shape a person’s path in life.
• James 1:2-4:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
This passage speaks to the value of perseverance through life’s challenges, much like the process of learning to crawl, walk, and eventually run.
• Psalm 37:23-24:
"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."
This verse illustrates that even when we stumble and fall, God is there to support and guide us, just as He does throughout our journey of learning and growth.
• 1 Timothy 4:12:
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."
This verse encourages young people to lead by example, regardless of their age, recognizing the potential within everyone to grow into a leader in God’s Kingdom.
Become a Leader in God's Kingdom
If you believe in God as the Creator of life, you understand that you will be tested. But no matter what, don’t quit. You do make a difference. The journey might cost you—time, energy, relationships—but these costs are part of the process that shapes you.
Over time, every experience, lesson, and hardship becomes part of your life story—your CV, if you will. You’ll have references who can testify to your character and perseverance. No matter how many mistakes you’ve made, how tired you are, or how broken you feel, don’t give up on your dreams. You do make a difference.
I’ve faced my own trials—I lost friends, strength, courage, time, and money. I found myself on my knees, lonely and broke, yet I never stopped believing. If you lose a job, keep the faith. Lose your house? Keep the faith. Move in with your mother? Keep the faith. Lose a kidney? Keep the faith. Even if you lose your marriage, keep the faith.
"You do make a difference."
All these experiences are what God will use to bring more sheep into His Kingdom. You are the shepherd He is looking for. Your life’s experiences are strong enough for Him. While the world may judge you harshly for your past, God invites you to share your story with Him. He will restore your faith and help you become the leader He intends you to be.
Let me remind you why:
• Romans 8:28:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
This verse reassures us that every experience, whether good or bad, is part of God's plan and will be used for a greater purpose.
• James 1:12:
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
This passage emphasizes the reward for perseverance through trials, encouraging you to keep the faith despite hardships.
• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
These verses highlight resilience in the face of adversity, reminding you that you are never alone in your struggles.
• Hebrews 10:36:
"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
This verse encourages perseverance in doing God’s will, assuring that the rewards will come in due time.
• Philippians 3:13-14:
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
This passage speaks to the importance of pressing on and not giving up, focusing on the future and the calling God has placed on your life.
• Isaiah 40:31:
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
This verse offers hope and strength, assuring that God will renew and empower those who place their faith in Him, enabling them to lead and make a difference.
Lead by Example: Following the Greatest Leader
In closing brothers and sisters, to be effective leaders in God's Kingdom, we must look to the examples set before us. Every person referenced in the Bible carries a unique character of leadership that we can learn from. But the greatest leader of all is Jesus Christ, and our ultimate goal should be to model our lives after Him and His likeness.
Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, highlighted the fruits of the Spirit, which should be the foundation of our leadership style in God's Kingdom. These fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—are essential qualities that define godly leadership. If we are unable to perfect these good fruits and resist the bad, our form of leadership remains incomplete.
Until these virtues become our natural way of leading, we should continue to approach our growth with the humility of a child, just as we did in the beginning, pushing forward to run even when we were still crawling. Remember, it's all about action. As James reminds us, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22).
So, lead as a doer, not just a hearer, embodying the fruits of the Spirit in every aspect of your leadership. Amen