Everybody knows that a great leader knows that playing it safe makes winning an impossibility.
The Bible is full of men and women who relinquished the safety of the cozy life for the unsettling place that leads to the relish of effecting our God-given purpose.
Here are 7 mighty men of valor whose leadership played a significant role in the Bible.
- Mr. Meek Moses: Moses was a highly educated and trained leader. He is said to have been the most humble/meekest man on earth. He was a patient leader of a people with little faith who loved murmuring, squawking and complaining about everything. (Ex. 16:8, 16-20).
Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.”
2. Doughty Dauntless David: A visionary, a creative and a doughty mighty warrior. When God rejected King Saul who was anything but humble, he asked Samuel to anoint David to be the next king. David’s heart toward God made him a supreme leader and the greatest king that Israel ever had. His government had an impressive cabinet. God referred to David as a Man after his Heart.
God says “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1st Sam 16:7).
3. Daniel The Docile: When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion’s den. He vehemently refused to eat the king’s diet and ended up in much better health than those who gobbled on fatty juicy meats.
Daniel was first and foremost concerned about living in submission to God’s laws and had no fear of man, even the chest thumping King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. To God, obedience is better than sacrifice (1st Sam 15:22)-a mark of a great leader.
4. Pertinacious Paul: Paul was thoroughly subservient to the will of God. He was stubbornly tenacious and committed to his meaningful mission. Paul perversely persisted in the face of opposition. He had limitless horizons in his mission. A great missionary who suffered at the hands of sinful men.
For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2nd Cor 1:5).
5. Never Give Up Nehemiah: Nehemiah was resilient, relentless and was good at keeping the eye on the ball. He was truly a great leader who despite facing all sorts of obstacles as he was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, kept going. He was the cup bearer to King Artaxerxes, which was a high position of authority. He risked his life as he sought help to rebuild the walls Jerusalem.
6. Pastor Peter: Peter was a rock in his faith to all believers. He was also a stumbling block- a rock of offense to the Jews. Despite Peter denying Jesus three times during the illegal trial he was subjected to, and swearing profusely to prove that he was not a disciple of Christ, he bounced back after he repented and was renewed by Christ.
Peter’s great sermon on the Day of Pentecost is one of the astounding sermons in the Bible. By God’s grace, he convicted the crowd to repent and turn to Christ and the positive outcome was great.
...those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
7. Excellent Like Elijah: Elijah was a man who loved God wholeheartedly. He was gutsy. He had both a tough mind and a tender heart. He called out sin courageously and sarcastically without fear. Talk about tough love. Where is your God, he asked. “Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” (1 Kings 18:27).
7 Great lessons From Biblical Leadership
- Petty criticism-Everybody take cover! Petty criticism wears on the leader. Just like Moses, the wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of his followers. Resist.
- Made for greatness: Paul traveled by foot over 10,000 miles and was beaten, tortured, stoned, imprisoned, and more than once, left to die but great leaders have to suffer as Peter testifies. Overcome.
Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1st Pet 4:13). I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47).
- Getting those soft hands dirty: Great leaders must possess courage and not be afraid of what others think or what others might do. Nehemiah faced opposition from nations around him and from within his own nation but still managed to rebuild Jerusalem in 52 days! Boldness galore.
- Knocking down the stumbling blocks: In Matthew 16, Peter was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Resilience is the cornerstone of effective leadership. Keep going.
- Tough love through tender hearts: Elijah through his sarcasm showed his despitefulness for those who had forsaken God. A leader who becomes a wimp, will lose his leadership authority. Potent leaders have the daringness to speak even when it is abhorred to speak- they state the truth with love. Restraint.
- Teamwork makes the dreamwork: Have you seen David’s cabinet? What about Solomon’s government? Joshua had been in the presence of God and was appointed as one with judicial powers. He had a special place. He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. Partisanship.
Conclusion
Great leaders must possess the humility of Moses, obey like Moses, be a man or woman after God’s own heart like David, attack adversity with boldness and courage, and know God will always restore by his grace.
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