The Gift of Following

No organization is stronger than the quality of its leadership, or ever extends its constituency far beyond the degree to which its leadership is representative.
Edgar D. Powell

1 Sam 8:7-9
The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. "Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day -- in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods -- so they are doing to you also. "Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them." NASU

We can only go as far as we let the Lord take us. Leadership is important, but it is not the leadership that we see in front of our eyes. It is in fact, the invisible hand of God working within the Church, to bring it to its ordained destiny. The problem lies in the ability to follow.

Good leaders first become good followers, and Christ never allows leadership in His church that has not first learned the gift of following. I say gift because many gifts are received after we learn this wonderful talent. Sheep learn to follow the shepherd and receive the safety of safe pastures and dwell securely. But, the ones with the wild ideas close their ears and chase things that lead them from the flock.

There is no use to tie them, they will only wander away when the time is right, but the shepherd must be faithful to solemnly warn them of their error. They will be led by err or by right, but they are still being led. It is error to think that we have our own way within us? Listen to Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:9 “indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;”…God Bless.

Pastor William