Lead.

Friday, November 19, 2010
Lead. Last night I got to see something that made my heart swell. We took our student ministry to a church to lead the service during their revival. This church is struggling, and has gotten down to their last 2 members, a husband and wife. This revival is a “fleece” of sorts. They’ve laid it out, and asked God to do a work this week during revival if He wants this church to continue. If not, when the service is over this coming Sunday night they’ll lock the doors and the building will sit empty. That’s heartbreaking, isn’t it?
Nonetheless, I saw some amazing students in action last night. To say that I’m proud of what God is doing in the lives of these teenagers would be a tremendous understatement. There just aren’t words to describe what I feel when I see them leading a group of people in worship. We’ve got a couple of guys that are just about as talented musically as anyone you’ll ever meet, and they did a fantastic job. And the rest of the students sang, with all their heart, to the God they are learning to love more every day. And this youth pastor was beaming.
They were able to lead. They’re ability to do so had come from a time of preparation before the actual service last night. They were prepared to lead. And so is the case with anyone that leads in any capacity in life. There must be a time of preparation, a training ground, before an effective leader can step out from the crowd and lead people anywhere or to anything. God wants us in the battle – He wants us to step up as believers and lead a lost, dying world to Him. But we must spend time on the training ground.
Have you ever been behind someone while driving that just wasn’t exactly fit for the job of leading? They don’t know where they’re going, and you even begin to doubt if you’ll ever make it anywhere at all if you continue to follow them. Speed up, slow down. Speed up, slow down. Blinker comes on, and then suddenly goes off, without a turn being made. It’s sort of frustrating, actually. There have been times my sin nature has wanted to shout, “Either lead or get out of the way!” (I don’t, of course. Because that, after all, wouldn’t be the right thing to do…so I don’t… That’s my story and I’m sticking to it…)
Today, the world is hurting. They’re in the dark. They are hopeless, and without Christ they are headed for destruction that will last for an eternity. That’s a scary reality, but very much true. How often do they look to us and see us speeding up, and slowing down? They see the blinker come on, and then suddenly go off. They are looking for direction. They want to know how to get to God and away from the sin that has them trapped. And so many times when they look at us they see confusion and misdirection.
So today, let’s give ourselves a challenge shall we? Lead – or get out of the way. Let’s show them how to get to the One that changed us. Let’s use the time we’re in right now as a training ground, allowing God to speak to us through His Word and strengthen our faith and dependence on Him. And when we have the opportunity, the privilege, the honor – let’s lead. After all, if we know Christ, we know where we’re going. So on into the dark we go – leading others to the Light. I want my Savior to be beaming – beaming all the way into the darkness of the darkest hearts on earth. Let’s lead.


That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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