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This blog is for all you readers who don’t think of yourself as a leader. It’s time to think again!

I recognize that God has created us each with unique personalities, and that He has gifted each of us differently. However…(gotta watch out for those “however’s”)…whether you see yourself as being gifted as a leader or having leadership qualities or not, God has positioned and called you to be a leader. That being the case, it only makes sense for you to view yourself as one.

“Positioned” and “called,” you say? Yes, I say. Well, no, actually God’s Word says. And if we way to be more specific, in the following passage, it is Jesus who says we are called and positioned to influence others:

¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

That’s leadership. Standing up so that your light shines is leadership. Influencing others is leadership.

Our positioning and calling for leadership is also one of the themes in Peter’s epistles. Check out these two verses:

⁹But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

…..

¹²Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 2:9, 12

Even a cursory reading of the Bible makes it clear that priests were in positions of leadership – certainly spiritual leadership, but often other types of leadership as well. Under the New Covenant, we have all become part of the royal priesthood. That puts all of us in positions of leadership. One of the ways we exert that leadership is by living godly lives among those who don’t know God. For what purpose? So that we might influence them toward the Gospel message.

Have you ever known someone who professed loudly to be a Christian but whose actions spoke volumes that contradicted that claim? I worked with such a man once and sometimes I just wish he would have been quiet about his faith – because everyone knew two things about him: (1) he was a Christian and (2) he was a lazy and poor worker. And that behavior influenced people.

Yours does, too. The question is “In what way? Is your behavior influencing people toward the Gospel or away from it?”

Whether you recognize your calling or not, you have been called by God to influence people for the Gospel. Whether you believe it or not, you have been positioned for influencing those around you for the Gospel.

I want to encourage you to believe those two facts and then act upon your beliefs. Settle it in your mind (believe) that you are a leader, positioned for influence. Effective leadership begins with viewing yourself as a leader and taking up the responsibility of leadership. Until you view yourself as having influence over others, you won’t think much about what influence that will be. Again, settle it in your mind that you are a leader.

Then put your faith into action. Am I asking you to become like others you might label as “leaders?” No. God has unique gifted you. Be yourself, but be that person within you who has confidence in the way God made you and look for opportunities He gives to influence others.

I am asking those of you who are uncomfortable with the title “leader” to reshape your thinking and step up to the leadership table. God will meet you there and will give you your assignment. That assignment will be consistent with the way He’s made and gifted you, so don’t be afraid of it. You might want to prepare yourself for an adventure, though! God loves to take us on adventures when we confidently take our position in Him and trust Him to take the reins!

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 5th, 2011 at 6:43 am and is filed under Attitude, Christian Living, Confidence in God, Faith, Serving God. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.