Christian Leadership Foundations 1 - GraceSample

GRACE AND ORDINARINESS

Leadership Devotion

This reading is ironic in a way. Paul was a powerful leader before he became a Christian. He was a fully-fledged Roman citizen. He was well-educated and well-respected in Jewish circles. It seems he was entrusted by the Jewish establishment to wipe out the burgeoning Jewish sect of Jesus followers. Paul was respected and influential before he was called by Jesus.

So when Paul writes that God doesn’t call many who are smart or influential, he wasn’t referring to himself, but he is making the point that he and those like him are exceptions to the rule. In his grace, God has a habit of choosing and working through rather ordinary people. The Corinthians were like that. So were the disciples. It’s not that God can’t powerfully use gifted and significant and brilliant people. Of course, he can, and he does if they stay humble and dependent. It’s just that God doesn’t need leaders like that.

In his grace, God mostly chooses rather ordinary people to serve him. That way it is obvious that God is doing the work. That way people don’t get carried away by their successes. That way God gets the accolades.

Maybe you feel you really have something to offer to God. Be very careful. You might be getting in the way of God’s work and ignoring his grace. Maybe you feel somewhat insignificant to have an influence on others. According to Paul, that’s normal and a really good start.

To Contemplate

Is leadership ability a strength or a weakness when it comes to Christian leadership?

Leadership Reflection

There are numerous biblical truths that flow from the foundation of grace. As I briefly describe some of them, it would be helpful for you to check just how well you believe and hold on to each truth. This will assist you to assess your grasp of grace. If you find a truth that is difficult for you to accept and trust, ponder on it, and read through the Scripture listed.

1. I have been created in grace by God: he has designed me and has given me my gifts. (Psalm 139:13-14; 1 Cor. 12:7-11)
   God has created me and designed me for his purpose. Through his grace, he has given me my personality, my gifts, my talents, my experiences, my background. I have been carefully created and developed by God in his grace for the purposes he has planned for me.
2. I am a flawed/broken person: I will never get it right and I am not as good as others think. (Rom. 7:14-25)
   There is a brokenness about me because of my humanity and I will not escape this completely until I am freed in God’s new creation. The Spirit works on my sinfulness through the process of sanctification, but I have a long way to go. My motives are often mixed, I get a lot of things wrong, and my brokenness continually plagues me. I constantly need to confess and repent of my sin. That is reality. God knows it. He has seen me at my worst. And the incredible thing is that it has not stopped God in his grace blessing me and using me.
3. I have been called and saved by Jesus: I am God’s child because he has chosen me and adopted me. (2 Tim. 1:9-10)
   The whole plan of salvation was God’s idea. He designed the plan. He made the way for me to be right with him through Jesus. In grace, he chooses those he wants to be saved so that they might love and serve him. It is all God’s work. My total role was to receive his grace. I am not saved because of anything I have done. It all rests on Jesus and his work. He is the giver, and I am the receiver.
4. I am deeply accepted and loved by my Father: God loves me just the way I am. (Rom. 8:31-39)
   Despite my brokenness and sin, God still really, really loves me. He chose me in the middle of all my sins and continues to pour out his love on me. In fact, nothing can stop him from doing that. I don’t always love myself, but God continues to love me and stand with me whatever I do. In his grace, he chooses to see me through Jesus, so I am safe forever in his love whether I succeed or fail, whether I do what is right or wrong.
5. God has kingdom work he calls me to do: God plans to bear fruit through me. (Matt. 28:19-20)
   God has not just called me to enjoy him forever. He has work that he wants to do through me. I am to bear fruit. Some of that fruit will be in the spiritual growth and beauty of my life, but much will be kingdom fruit that comes as I serve using the gifts he has given me. God doesn’t ultimately need me, but in his grace, he chooses to include me in the growth of his kingdom. I have a vital part to play.
6. I cannot do what God wants me to do: what God wants is beyond my ability and gifts. (1 Cor. 1:26-31)
   I am not smart enough or godly enough or powerful enough to achieve what God wants. No matter how hard I try and pray and serve, I just do not have the ability or gifting or capacity to do it. It is way too hard for me. I wish I could achieve all that God asks, but I just do not have it in me. God’s expectations are too high. His call takes me way beyond my natural abilities.
7. I am filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit: God lives in me and enables me to bear fruit. (John 16:5-15)
   The disciples had Jesus to teach them and help them and guide them. But what we have now is even better than that. I have the Holy Spirit living in me to provide the guidance and gifts and fruit and power that I need to pursue God’s call. The Holy Spirit is God’s grace gift to me. As I rely on the Spirit, God works through me and does things that I could never achieve on my own.
8. I am completely dependent on God for his work through me: ultimately God has to do the work because it is his gracious plan and his power. (1 Cor. 2:1-5)
   While I have to put significant effort into the work God has called me to do, any kingdom results inevitably come from him. He is the one who changes lives, not me. The more I remain connected to and dependent on Jesus, the more I will see his working through my life.
9. I am not looking for personal attention or praise. I want God to be pleased and honored. (Rom. 15:17-19)
   Because ultimately this is God’s grace work, not mine, I do not want people to get confused and think that somehow the results of my ministry come from my effort or my abilities. I am not looking for attention and praise (although encouragement is helpful). I want God to be pleased and I pray that he will be honored for the way he uses me.

As Christian leaders, we know we serve with a limp. We accept our own brokenness and inability and are not ashamed of this, because basically, we are not trying to prove ourselves or build a reputation but to humbly follow Jesus and point people to him. Our influence is not about our desires, but God’s desires. We are recipients of God’s grace and are offering and demonstrating this grace to others. Our passion for grace pervades our leadership and allows God’s power to effectively work through us.