How to Choose a Good Leader
Aug 19, 2019 3161
In life, if you don’t choose your leader, you’re going to be led. But Jesus will never force his leadership onto you. You have to choose him.
Jesus’ teaching in John 10, about the Good Shepherd and his sheep, really about leadership: Jesus is telling the Pharisees what real versus corrupt leadership is all about. Jesus says to them,
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture (John 10:9, NIV).
Jesus’ expression here, about coming in and going out, is a very important one, and we need to understand it.
The model for this phrase of “going out and coming in” is God, who as a faithful shepherd, through Moses and Joshua, brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
This expression has to do with leadership, For example, when Moses is asking God who will succeed him as the leader of the people, he asks God to appoint someone:
to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd. (Num 27:17).
That ended up being Joshua. Then, in Moses’ final blessings he says to the Children of Israel that if they obeyed the Lord,
You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out (Deut 28:6).
In other words, they would have good leaders who will care for them (See also v.19).
1 Sam 18:6 tells us that David was a great leader, and:
all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
A little later, when God calls David’s son Solomon to lead the nation, Solomon response in prayer that he doesn’t have any leadership abilities:
Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in (1 Kings 3:7, NKJV).
Jesus Has Put His Leadership Credentials on the Line
In your life you will always be going out and coming in from different situations. It’s just the rhythm of life. It might be a move from one house to another, or to a new city, or even from one country to another. It might be coming out of one relationship and into another. It could be a new career or a new adventure. And every morning, when you leave the front door of your home and every evening when you return, there is a going out and a coming in.
How can you be sure that you will be safe and blessed in all your times of going out and coming in? It all depends on who your leader is. We all follow someone, or something, as our leader. Jesus has put his leadership credentials on the line:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11, NIV).
The Lord tells us that all the other leaders are “thieves and robbers” (v.8). You’ll never be safe in your going out and coming in with them.
Will you choose Jesus as your leader of your life? Will you stay with him?
Yatta Roslyn Young
Sep 16, 2019
Jesus chose me as HIS own since I was in my mother's womb. I yielded my life to HIM really in 1990 at the start of the Liberian civil crises. I made HIM my leader when I started studying theology seriously. Now where HE leads me is where I will go. I follow HIM because HE is the way, the truth, and the life!
Nuwagaba moses
Sep 4, 2019
I will never forget the day I opened my heart for Jesus to be my savior, since then he has been my leader.Glory belongs to him.
Tariel Karaeliea
Aug 27, 2019
I choose Jesus as my Leader.
Eliezer Gonzalez
Aug 27, 2019
Thank you for your sharing your wonderful testimony!
Stojan Ninkovic
Aug 26, 2019
Perfect love casts out fear. You will know the guidance of God by the sense of His peace as you walk in the direction you believe He is leading you. Dr. Ford talked a lot about the providence of God. He once defined it as ‘the hand of God in the glove of circumstance’. The word ‘provide’ is in providence and gives us a clue that where God leads He also provides for us what we need so we can fulfill His plan for us. Also remember the word ‘ear’ is in fear. This is important! To hear the word of God by reading it daily. My family was led to move to British Columbia in 1988 because I read one verse in Isaiah ‘the islands and coastal lands shall praise Me’ while daydreaming as the preacher was preaching at church while my wife who was 4000 miles away read the same verse in her reading that day. The next day I called her and we both agreed God was calling us to move 3000 miles away! Once we decided this was indeed the Lord, all other important aspects related to relocating our family with children fell into place. Again I will witness to the faithfulness of God in the care of those who abide under His care. Why would anyone think of living apart from the love and kindness of God as shown in Jesus Christ? Thank God that we can come as we are to Jesus and He will forgive us our sins and will restore our lives to reflect His wonderful character.
Evette mc Gaw
Aug 26, 2019
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock and where he leads me i will follow i choose Jesus Halleuijah
Elochukwu Chinedu Amadi
Aug 26, 2019
I have always made JESUS the leader of my live and family.HE has never failed us. Praise be to HIM.
David Sampson
Aug 25, 2019
Yes ooooh Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the only Begotten Son of God is my leader and I lHe shall be my leader till eternity. Hallelujah. Oh Lord God Almighty, let me not leave your leadership to any of the deceivers of this sinful world in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen and Amen
Dusilele Ba
Aug 25, 2019
Yes i had always choose Jesus as the leader of my life, Amen.
Betty Ukin
Sep 17, 2019
Amen...My GOD IS MY EVERYTHING AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE.