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Following The Leader

A few things happened this week that made me think of leadership and the role of a leader. It’s been said that in order for there to be a leader there must be a follower. I follow many people on Facebook and Instagram but I’ve also had to hide or unfollow those that are taking me somewhere I don’t want to go or know I shouldn’t go. I don’t want to be lead to inappropriate videos, photos or vulgar posts. So I don’t follow those people anymore. They are no longer leading me.

I took an exercise course last week where the instructor as she was demonstrating the proper form of exercise said “DO NOT, NOT, NOT do this exercise while standing on your bench” , as she was standing on her bench, she continued saying… “I’m standing on my bench because..” to which, I tuned her out. For me, it didn’t matter why she was standing on her bench. She had just instructed us to NOT, NOT, NOT. I couldn’t help but think that the best way to lead is by example. The old “do as I say, not as I do” came to mind and that isn’t the best way to lead people.

On another day, I sat with someone who was teaching false doctrine. Again, not somewhere I want to go. I want truth and I want others to lead me in truth! I heard recently, “show me your friends and I’ll show your future” in other words, we become like those that we follow and hang out with. Who are you following and where are they taking you? Are you hanging out with girlfriends who don’t respect their husbands? Demand things to go their way? Tell you that you deserve to be happy and have a fun night out? Is that some place you want to go?

Lastly, and this is what prompted me to write this, because I’m guessing you might be thinking the same as this sweet young mom I met a couple of weeks ago. She has a three year old and is very pregnant with her second child. She was talking about wanting to do more in the church, to get involved and I think her words were something like “ I want to be a leader”. It was at that very moment her sweet little guy who had never met me before, crawled up on my lap and gave me this sweet, tender hug. I looked at her, smiled and said “You ARE leading, you’re leading this little one, he is watching and following you. Not to mention you have another follower on the way. These are the ones God is calling you to lead, as you show them what a Christ Follower looks like.”  

I look back on some of my mommy moments in years past and I was no different than that exercise instructor saying “ DO NOT,NOT,NOT” then telling them “ I’m doing it because…” . Since God grabbed a hold of my heart, I’ve been learning to lead by example. I still mess up and am so thankful for God’s grace and patience with me. But my point is: as Christ followers, we should look to Jesus, hang out with Him and seek Him; our ultimate leader for guidance and then show others what that looks like.  Little ones are watching and they will follow where we lead them.  

Pressing On!

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