ICS Daily Devotions
Leading with Love
There is a huge difference between spiritual leadership and corporate leadership. In the corporate world, we are driven by tasks and bottom lines. As corporate leaders, we are used to giving instructions rather than taking instructions, doing simple tasks and empathizing with our colleagues. We can be very harsh, mean and vicious with our words and interactions with people. We have no room for grace, mercy and love. We hire and fire based purely on performance because it is profit driven world. It can be a very toxic environment.
However, in church, we are driven by love. As spiritual leaders, we follow the example Jesus has set, and emphasize on servant leadership.
Mark 9:35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. He washed the feet of His disciples, even those of Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray and kill Him the very next day.
John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:12-17 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you [b]know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Love made Jesus serve. As such, we should have love for our colleagues, business partners and friends whom God has placed in our paths, regardless of their statuses or class in society. We need to remember that everyone has families, emotions and deal with real issues, such as bad reports, illnesses and relationship troubles. We must have hearts to care, empathize and extend grace when it is required or the situation calls for it. We are to minister to people out of love with the spiritual gifts that God has given us. Love is what will set spiritual leaders apart from the rest of the leaders in the world.
Sermon Series: CG Campaign – Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow
