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"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
(Acts 20:28)
John Maxwell is an expert in leadership. His greatest and most remembered quote is, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." Leaders will always be in great demand. We are in constant need of capable, wise men and women who lead with integrity, speak truth, and provide vision. Many reading this devotion today are men and women who have been tasked to lead. Perhaps everyone reading this devotion today is a leader, whether in the home, at school, on the job, at church, or on your sports team. I pray that this week's devotions on leadership impart both inspiration and instruction.
God has called me to lead. I am grateful to God that He has equipped and commissioned me to lead my family, our church family, and the DFEA ministry. Of course, I do not lead alone. I am surrounded by many godly and extremely qualified and gifted men and women, and I am so very grateful and blessed. Even though I have been in a leadership position for over 30 years, I still am learning and hopefully improving. I am still growing, and I make mistakes. The thing about making mistakes is they can teach us a lot. The best response is to own up to it, apologize, and then move forward.
This week, we will look at some leadership lessons from one of the great leaders in the Bible: the Apostle Paul. He pours out his heart and soul to the Ephesian elders in Miletus as he makes his way back to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey. Last week in our devotions, we noticed how, as a great leader, Paul did not back down from telling the truth. He accurately declared what his fellow pastors needed to hear. Paul's message at Miletus, the only recorded speech by Paul in Acts directed to Christians, is the source of inspiration for Jim Cymbala's new book, Fan the Flame. Having spent a little time with Pastor Jim recently, he also lives out these same principles that I will share with you this week.
Verse 28 begins with "Therefore." In light of Paul's ministry, they now need to take the baton and move forward. Paul spoke with authority because he lived what he preached. They knew the kind of life he lived and the kind of sermons he taught. Now he casts vision for them and gives them instructions on how they are to carry on without him.
A church where everything revolves around the preacher is unhealthy. It is good for the ego but not for the Kingdom of God to have everything revolve around you as the pastor. Pastor, you do not have to be all, know all, and do all for the church to be effective. If today you were to leave the church you are currently leading, would it carry on without you and not skip a beat?
Note his words of instruction: he told them to take heed to themselves. He challenged these spiritual leaders to be attentive and be careful in how they live. The word was used of how careful a sailor must be in bringing a ship from sea into the shore. These pastors were to guard their own lives. Charles Finny said, "Do not undo outside the pulpit what you did inside the pulpit."
I love pastors and enjoy coming alongside them to spur them on and hopefully motivate them to fulfill their calling. More leadership lessons from the Apostle Paul tomorrow.
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