The Good News

 

I was originally going to blog about giving and receiving feedback this week but in my quiet time with God this morning I was prompted to go down a different route.

My bible reading this morning was  from Acts chapter 5.The stories of these original trail blazers of ministry are so inspirational and motivational. I love reading them and it makes me so itchy just to get out there and tell people about Jesus.

Acts 5 finishes with a story of the apostles being arrested and thrown into jail for spreading the life changing message of Jesus. During the night an Angel appears and sets them all free. The next morning the authorities go to find their prisoners but only find an empty cell.

You would think the apostles would flee, move on, get out of there but...No. Instead the authorities find them in the city centre preaching the word of God, spreading the message of Jesus.

Vs 41-42 says "The apostles left...rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace of the Name (of Jesus). Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah."

What an inspiration these first church leaders are. To give everything they have, to risk imprisonment...even worse death to proclaim the good news of Jesus.


You know, in leadership we can get so caught up in the hows, the whys, the whats of being a leader we can forget the original call that Jesus gave us  "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always , to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)


The true foundation to great leadership is a growing and nurtured relationship with Jesus. Some of the richest times I've spent with God have been in my quiet time with God. I often find myself saying to God "I want to be a better leader than I am. I don't want to stand before you someday and have to admit that I squandered the opportunities you gave me. I want to develop my leadership skills to the peak of my potential. God, mold and shape me to my full potential."

It is often during this prayer that I feel the Holy Spirit prompt me to scroll through the lives of some of my favourite leaders in the bible. After reflecting on the lives of these diverse men and women, and identifying the praiseworthy components of their leadership, I began to pray that their strengths would find a greater expression in my life.

If you are a leader... spend some time scrolling through some of the most inspirational leaders God gave his people.

David (Optimism)
Jonathan (Capacity to love)
Joseph (Integrity)
Joshua (Decisiveness)
Esther (Courage)
Solomon (Wisdom)
Jeremiah (Authenticity)
Nehemiah (Commitment to Celebration)
Peter (Initiative)
Paul (Intensity)

Look at these incredible leaders, be inspired, be motivated, think how you can employ some of their strengths into your own life and your own leadership.

And... never, ever stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah