Leadership God’s Way
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
You are warmly welcome to Kakumba Chapel.
It is good to desire to lead, and the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy that ‘Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.’ John Maxwell asserts that leadership is a choice you make, not a place you sit; leadership is not about position; it’s about influence. For those of us rising into leadership responsibilities, let me encourage you with two words. First, learn what God requires of you, beginning with prophet Micah’s admonition in the verse above: act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Secondly, ‘be strong and courageous’ and keep the Word of God near you – take the encouragement that God gave to Joshua and His power will thrust you into the success of leadership.
I love the song that says, ‘Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, but the church of Jesus ever shall remain.’ Leaders come and go – even the most celebrated and those whose names are suffixed ‘the Great’. Moses was such a leader. He wrestled down the oppressive superpower of that time and Pharaoh gave in. If some liberation efforts had come up sometimes within the 430 years of the Jewish stay in Egypt, Moses’ uprising was not just one of those – it resulted in the release of over two million people who left in one group, leaving the Egyptians startled and looking on in utter bewilderment. Moses was that kind of leader, but later he died. In the meantime, the God who had raised Moses to this stature had trained a successor to whom he could now say, ‘Over to you Joshua’.
The mission is not yet done; the journey ahead has some fierce battles, and the land must be divided among the tribes with fairness. These were Joshua’s tasks, and it must have been frightening to take over leadership at such a time. Looking back at the legacy of his predecessor, Joshua must have wondered if he will measure up, if he will manage the tasks, if internal rebellion will not overthrow him – many if’s can clog the mind at such a time. Yet the Lord God who calls encouraged and assured him of victory in keeping with a longstanding promise. The hymn writer added: ‘Death and hell and Satan never shall prevail – we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail’. No matter how tough the task, no matter how high the calling, as long as the God who called you made a promise, you will not fail.
After Moses, many other great leaders have come and gone; we miss them, but more important is the voice of God that is heard in many ears saying ‘over to you’. In our own days the mission is not yet done; there are battles ahead and lands to take, and the Lord has called many to leadership. Hear the caller, and lead His way and you will be blessed.
God bless you all.