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be earned. The Lord did not have to do have goals for your sphere of influence
this but, in the same fashion that He or have goals for any project you hope to
“stooped” into humanity, His actions accomplish. What are you trying to lead
clearly described this important prin- other believers to accomplish? Importantly,
ciple. It has been said, “Before a person the fellow believers you desire to lead also
buys into a vision, the person must buy need to know your goal. Whether great or
into the leader.” “Buying into” a leader small, the endpoint is what motivates us to
is dependent upon a combination of the engage in any task for God. If you cannot be
leader’s character, trust, credibility, com- excited by a goal or have a passion for it, it is
petence, past performance, passion and unlikely that you will draw anybody to join
enthusiasm. To be an effective leader you on your quest. What is your goal? There
requires possession in some degree of are so many needs in the assembly. Is there
most, if not all, of these characteristics. anything that can motivate you to “launch
The Lord demonstrated all of these out” and accomplish something of value
qualities and other important leader- for the Lord? What about your passion?
ship traits, such as patience, kindness “Where there is a fire, people run to see it!”
and humility, and was never envious Passion is a key element that draws people
or striving. His love was sacrificial. The to a leader but the leader must start with
leader has to be worthy to lead. the goal. In addition, an effective leader will
Furthermore, the Lord attracted use the goal as a motivating factor for those
people because He “connected” with fellow believers to help accomplish the goal.
people. He was unveiling scriptural After we consider the Lord’s overriding
truth in a different way than the Old goal, we can see that all of His actions re-
Testament writers and prophets. He did corded in the Gospel accounts were in view
so by first attracting the heart and then of His goal. He had a “map.” Leaders have
the mind. He was attentive to the needs to be aware of where they are leading oth-
of every individual that He met and ers, and although we cannot really know the
tailored His approach to suit that need. end from the beginning, a successful leader
How are you with getting along and en- must determine the means to get to the goal.
gaging with people? How are you with Effective leadership involves “charting the
course” besides “steering the ship.” We can
taking on the role of a servant? These are see throughout the Lord’s ministry how He
essential qualities of a Christian leader. navigated the course for the small band
When the Lord Jesus stepped into that followed Him. He was aware of the
humanity, He had one overriding goal disciples’ spiritual development, and the
in mind. We read that “Christ Jesus unveiling of His purposes was done in a
came into the world to save sinners” deliberate manner. John 11 is an example of
(1Ti 1:15). In other words, this was the the Lord deliberately waiting for the death
great goal He had in mind; He had the of Lazarus in order to best suit the unfolding
endpoint in view. He recognized that in of truth and His plan. Likewise, a successful
a few short years from the beginning of leader needs a good sense of timing. There
His ministry, He would be crucified (and should be a sense of how and when to un-
raised again from the dead) to become fold things to those who follow. A leader
the salvation for all who believed. needs to be able to think ahead to discern
In like manner, as a leader you must the wisest path and how to deal with the
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