Daily Devos - January 15, 2008

"And you became imitators of us and of the Lord..."
I Thessalonians 1:6a (ESV)

When I first entered Seminary the school was in a period of transition. As part of a larger university, it has historically been directed by institutional vice presidents. While these men were capable, faithful servants of God, the Seminary (by virtue of its structure) lacked leadership. Mid-way through my time there the school hired, for the first time, a President for the Seminary. The school was now somewhat autonomous and had a clear, definitive leader. I was amazed by what followed. Keep in mind that a Seminary is full of future leaders: pastors, worship directors, non-profit presidents, etc. Many of these people are hard-driving, Type-A personalities. When the new president arrived, I learned an important lesson--even leaders need leaders. People began to "follow" the new president. Some even began to talk, move, and even smile like him. Even these leaders-in-training needed a guide to come beside them and a 'rabbi' they could follow.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul writes, "Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ". Paul has no problem advocating that people imitate his lifestyle, beliefs, and behavior. This wasn't because Paul was arrogant, or because he thought he had everything figured out. But he did have one thing figured out--that Jesus Christ was the true Lord and Savior and all life should be lived to His glory. The reason Paul asks people to follow him is because he was so resolutely following after Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with following human leadership. In fact, the Bible requires it (read Hebrews 13). Some time ago a man came to me after the church service (where I had spoken on leadership) and made this statement: "Your my pastor, not my leader. Jesus is my leader". I smiled, and gently told him that scripture completely disagrees. Whether or not that man should have recognized me as his leader is not the point. The point is that human leadership is both needed and commanded by God.

But...there is a catch. Leadership is not enough. We are called to follow Biblical leadership; that is, we are called to follow the leadership of men and women whose lives magnify the glory of Jesus Christ. My seminary was blessed to have a human leader who pointed people to Jesus Christ.

But, how can you tell if you have found the right leader? The answer is fairly easy: Does he/she, by both word and deed, magnify the glory of Jesus Christ? Or, is he consumed with himself? Does she have a heart for God, or a heart for something else? A leader who lives exclusively for the glory of God is a rare and precious jewel.

Be that leader...but more importantly, find that leader and follow him (and the Lord).