Christian Leadership Foundations 1 - GraceSample

GRACE BENEFITS FOR FOLLOWERS

Leadership Devotion

Jesus describes three types of so-called “leaders” in this passage.

1. Thieves and robbers (10:8). These are leaders who are out to rob you and rip you off. It might not look like it, but they want to steal your resources, to feather their own nests, to achieve their own agendas. They will definitely not treat you with grace. Everything they do is motivated by their own needs and their desires. You’re expendable—a pawn in their plans. You follow them, and you’re going to be abused and hurt. Badly.

2. The hired hands (10:12). These are leaders trying to do the job as best they can. They’re not stealing from you like the thieves, but neither are they hugely concerned about you. They want to do their best and succeed as a leader. They’ll treat you with grace when it is convenient. All this is okay until leadership gets costly. When leading you means risking their reputation or peace of mind or their nice life, they’re off, leaving you to fend for yourself. You follow them, and you’re going to be disappointed, neglected, and probably abandoned.

3. The good shepherd (10:11). This is Jesus and the leaders who model themselves on him. Their heart is for protecting and supporting you. They know you are weak and vulnerable and need their grace and help. They are absolutely committed to you and will never abandon you. When the going gets tough, they are right there beside you, holding on to you for dear life. You follow them, and you will not only make it, but you will enjoy “life to the full” (10:10). You will flourish.

There are thieves and hired hands everywhere in our world, promoting their leadership. These are leaders who are feathering their nests or just doing their job. No wonder so many followers are disillusioned. Sadly, some of these leaders are even in the church. But when Jesus-type leaders emerge who know God’s grace in their life and offer this grace to those they influence, then their followers become all that God intended them to be. They flourish.

To Contemplate

How deeply is GRACE embedded in your life? Rate each statement below on the following scale:

5 - Strongly Agree; 4 - Agree; 3 - Neither Agree nor Disagree; 2 - Disagree; 1 - Strongly Disagree.

Total the scores. This gives a score out of 25. A score below 20 indicates significant room for growth.

1. I am a continually thankful person because I know God has treated me with great grace.
2. I am aware of my own weakness and sin, admit it to others, and seek God’s forgiveness.
3. I often pray for God’s direction and help because I know how much I need him and depend on him.
4. I try to humbly follow and honor Jesus in the things I do to serve others.
5. I find that people flourish around me as they enjoy the grace and acceptance I offer them.

Leadership Reflection

A Grace lifestyle helps those we lead in at least two ways:

1. Freedom

God’s grace is an incredible gift to offer those we influence. As we treat people with grace and create grace environments, people will find the freedom to be real, honest, and open. They can admit their mistakes. They can be themselves. They no longer have to protect themselves and their reputation because they know they will be treated with grace. In relationships, we can waste so much time and energy in self-defense and second-guessing and trying to control situations. Grace sets us free from the need for pretense and manipulation. It grows trust.

I have a special relationship with my brother, who is a pastor and a close friend. He knows me very well, including all my weaknesses. After all, he grew up with me, so there are no secrets. But deeply secure in God’s grace himself, he treats me with grace. He accepts me with my flaws. He believes in me more than I believe in myself. He cheers me on. He is generous towards me. He writes me regular notes or texts of encouragement. I know that I am safe with him. I do not have to prove myself. I do not have to pretend. I do not have to win his approval or avoid his criticism. I already have his favor. I know he is for me. Oh, he will gently challenge me, even correct me, when he feels I’m insensitive to people or disobedient to God, but our relationship is saturated with grace, which is incredibly freeing for me. I love being with him. I appreciate his feedback. The relationship strengthens me.

2. Flourishing

The freedom grace brings allows those we lead to flourish. When their defenses come down through the freedom of grace, they can enter fully into relationships, offer their best work, have fun, feel safe in conflict, and they can handle disappointment. They can flourish. As we saw in today’s Scripture reading, a good Shepherd’s purpose is that we can have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).

This is where Christian leadership starts – letting God’s grace pervade our lives so those around us experience grace. And this grows our influence as leaders. As those we lead enjoy freedom and flourishing, they will usually be more willing to listen to us and follow us. Grace is very attractive.

I hope you have seen how foundational grace is. This is where we start as we seek to influence others. If we do not prioritize grace, we end up thinking leadership is all about meeting our needs (“thieves”) or achieving things for God (“hired hands”), rather than being invited undeservedly to join God in his powerful kingdom work by laying down our lives for others (“good shepherds”).