THE BEST OF LEADERSHIP IN ONE AMAZING AND SIMPLE VERSE

by | Sep 23, 2022 | Uncategorized

As many of you know, I try to memorize a new verse or short passage each month. I select the verse(s) from my journaling in my daily time in Scripture. Here is one example:

“Israel’s leaders took charge (“took the lead” ESV) and the people gladly followed. Praise the Lord.” NLT.

I love it when there are so many basic principles and ideas about leadership in a single verse. I will be meditating and praying over this verse daily for the next ten months, seeking to understand, apply and then share with others what I learned.

Here are two passages of Scriptures on this order of 1) Understand, 2) Personally apply and then 3) Pass it along.

 “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10 (ESV)

 Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.” Ezekiel 3:10,11 (NLT)

 So, at the moment here are some of my initial observations from Judges 5:2

 1.  There are two distinct parts to good leadership.  A) Leaders lead and  B) People follow

 2.  When leaders actually lead rather than just manage and keep busy, people are more likely to want to follow. “Most organizations are over-managed and under-led” ~ Warren Bennis

 3.  When leaders lead and people follow, there is good reason to praise the Lord

 4.  There is a difference between people following and people gladly following.

 5.  People can follow because they have to; are bribed, paid, threatened or coerced, or they can follow from a glad and willing heart.

 6.  As a leader I want to lead and to lead well so that people are willing to follow  and follow well with gladness

 7.  If people are not willing to gladly follow, could it be due to leaders not leading well rather than the problem being with the followers for not following well?

 8. All leading and all following is so that God would be praised, honored and glorified.  “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever” ~Westminster Shorter Catechism

I’m so enjoying praying over Judges 5:2 for myself and other leaders with whom I’m involved.