Day 218

Leaders to serve humbly

Key Verses: 2, 5, 6, 8,

There is nothing quite like an eyewitness. When a crime happens, the first thing investigators do, after putting up the yellow tape around the scene, is to fan out and find eyewitnesses. Peter was an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and death. He leverages that fact as he charges the readers of this letter to carry out their role as leaders with due diligence. And they must lead in a way that is consistent with Jesus’ character.

The way we lead is just as important as the direction led. The ends don’t justify the means. Christ must exude throughout the whole process. We must be servants in our leadership style. We lead with towel in hand. No dictators are allowed. Humility is the key to successful and Biblical leadership. When someone in leadership looses humility, their leadership is sure to fail or perhaps has already failed. They may continue to lead, but the eternal value and direction is lost. Pride derails Biblical leadership.

We must be on top of our game. We can’t allow anything to get in the way of our spiritual growth and development. Satan is ready to take advantage of any opportunity he is afforded. All we need to do is resist, and the opportunity evaporates. Resistance is not futile! Resistance brings victory.

Remember, Satan is defeated. When Jesus rose from the dead Satan’s power was stripped. The only power he had was fear. Now that man’s great enemy death has been conquered, what else is there to fear? As Bill Murray said in What About Bob, “We’re all going to die.” But death no longer means hopelessness. Instead it means entrance into God’s presence for eternity.

I know that a dramatic shift in perspective came for me when I fully gripped my own mortality. I moved from death avoiding to death embracing. I don’t run from death, but it doesn’t mean I am running toward it either. I just am not afraid of it. It has lost its sting for me. I came to realize that I am not alone and I never will be alone.