Serve then Lead

As I grew up going to 4-H meetings as a kid, then other organizations in high school, I thought that a leader was a person in a group that held the highest office. I would get discouraged because I told myself I couldn’t memorize speeches and was scared to talk in front of others. I was content with just being a part of the team and not going outside my comfort zone. Over the years, I have come to realize that a leader isn’t someone who has that position, but has willing followers. I also opened my eyes and ears to God who was calling me to be a leader for Him. In some way, shape or form, He is calling all of us to be leaders.

Before I recognized what true leadership was, I always told people that the reason I started down this path as an educator was because I wanted to make an impact in the lives of students who needed it most. “The higher you want to climb, the more you need leadership. The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be.” These words are printed in John C. Maxwell’s, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. As a teacher and servant for God, I realized that I needed to step up and work harder at being that leader who keeps others in mind instead of myself.

Today at church, we welcomed our new pastor who gave a sermon from Matthew Chapter 16. First of all, I would like to elaborate on how good our God is. For weeks, I have been wanting to write on this subject but couldn’t find the words to bring it all together. “Coincidentally” the words that flowed from Pastor Scott’s mouth spoke right to me and He confirmed what the weekly blog post was going to be about and let the words go right into my heart.

“Upon this rock I will build my church.” –Matthew 16:18

At the beginning, I wasn’t expecting the sermon to go down the path that it did. I appreciated it very much as Scott explained why it is important to build your church, your family and everything done in life on a solid rock.

“I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.” –Matthew 16:19

Before this message, I interpreted this verse in a way that if we obey Him and believe that Jesus died for our sins, then we would get to go to Heaven and use those keys. Today however, Scott took a different approach to understanding these words. The keys that God has given us aren’t just for us to get into Heaven. These keys are opportunities to open doors for people who haven’t seen God’s mercy and forgiveness. As we take the keys to heaven and build our foundation on a solid rock, He has called us to be the spiritual leaders now and for generations to come. As family members, part of the church body, and assets to the community, we are leaders because we hold the keys to heaven for others. Yes, us men and women who sin, don’t listen and worry, hold the keys to heaven because He trusts us to serve then lead.

And if our God, the Creator of the Universe, is calling us to do something, how do we have any room to argue? And if our God says that He wants us to lead, shouldn’t we be the best leaders we can possibly be? If God says that we can make an impact, I believe that we should surrender ourselves to Him because if we let Him and let go, He can win souls and populate Heaven through us.

As we strive to be leaders, let’s have a servant’s heart that is willing and has a desire to put others before ourselves. Let’s be humble, trust in Him and His plan, encourage others, and not let power be the motive. In anything we do in life, whether it is at work, school or church, let’s be the servant leaders God has called us to be and use the keys to influence others.

"Serve one another in love." -Galatians 5:16