Hi all
With the events of the past week I have pondered what is Biblical Leadership? Clearly it is Servant Leadership. Jesus is our example. He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. He demonstrated this again and again. He overturned the thinking of the day by challenging the view that the rich were to be admired, instead say the poor were rich (See the beatitudes). He is raised concerns about the difficulty the Rich Young Ruler would have in getting to heaven. Challenged the view of storing up riches for ourselves. Philippians 2 is a chapter worthy of re-reading . It is important that those in ministry are not under-paid or have to struggle to get by, but at the same time we must remember that we must raise them on pedestals, or start worshipping them rather than God.
Philippians 2 vs. 4-11 Having The Attitude of Christ
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who, being in very nature God,
Came to earth, not to be served but to serve, learn to be a servant to your sisters and brothers
This world says to you, look after number one, don’t care for others, for them don’t give a sod
You can be the best at others expense, don’t worry be happy, who needs to love others
Yet Christ shows us another way, the world should not hold sway, live your life in God
Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing
Taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness
Christ the Son of God, worthy of our praise, he did not have to prove he was something
He knew his destiny, he foretold his death, what he chose was more than loving kindness
In the Garden of Gethsemane he faced the toughest choice, he did the hardest thing
He knew and obeyed his father, nevertheless thy will be done, he said, in real humbleness
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient
To death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
He knew the impact of accepting his father’s cup he knew the painful ingredients
He was lead to Golgotha, nailed and hung for our sin, what amazing saving grace
If we are prepared to confess to him, and of him, of our salvation we can be confident
We are called to journey with him, to look toward him to continually seek his face
And gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
In heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
We are his children; behold what manner of love he has shown to us, all we can say of this is WOW!
We can believe in him, he is our Lord, the only way, truth and life, believe what’s written in his Word
Come before him with thanksgiving in your heart, worship him, Christ the Lord not some holy cow
Praise the name of Jesus, he is your rock and fortress, stand on his promises, truly he is Lord!
To the Glory of God the Father
For it is the Father who gave his Son
We should remember this as we gather
Worship the three in one, Father, Spirit and Son
Holy, Holy, Holy, worship them nothing else is better
To abide in them may we be one as they are one
Mark Maffey, January 2006
(NIV)