Rev. E. Anderson
DIVINE LEADERSHIP
The greatest leader of all is God and the greatest and best leadership comes from Him. It is the leadership of the Divine and therefore it is divine leadership and cannot be better or improved upon.
Every leader that professes to be called and commissioned by God to give leadership to His people and the Christian Church must certainly receive His essential leads from Him if his leadership is to be effectual. There must be a basic learning of God and His ways and the adoption of His attitudes and principles so that there is utter conformity to His design in this vital area.
David the king and sweet psalmist of Israel said: ‘he leadeth me’ and so was in the position to rightly lead others.
What are some of the choice, quality characteristics of God’s leadership?
1/. HE LEADS BY PURE MOTIVATION
The passion that indwells and inspires the whole being and leadership of God over all His creation and creatures is that of holy love and grace. Whatever He does for all springs from this noble drive and stimulus and makes all His acts worthy and commendable. He has no reason to be ashamed over anything He does before anyone. It is a leadership of love and not a love of leadership and this must be the same in all who would serve Him acceptably see 2 Corinthians 5: 14. Love sanctifies doer and deed and makes all commendable and attractive.
2/. HE LEADS BY HIGHEST WISDOM
God does not behave foolishly or is a fool but rather portrays infinite sense at all times in the course of His leadership before all His creatures. Never can He be charged of ever doing a stupid act but He leads all by His wonderful judgment. He is incapable of making any mistake and so His leadership can be trusted. Because He possesses omniscience He always decides wisely and those who know and embrace His direction also will act with wisdom in their leadership role. He seeks to save those in divine leadership from foolish behaviour and gives unerring direction. See the assured promise of Proverbs 3: 5, 6.
‘The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is knowledge of our own ignorance’ -Spurgeon
3/. HE LEADS WITH DEFINITE PURPOSE AND DESIGN
He ever entertains in those who are summoned to leadership that the best is achieved both in and through them. His supreme intention first of all is to make them of noble and worthy character and then to reproduce the same in others through them. There is primarily the fitting of the individual for divine leadership and then the creation and cultivation of other through their example and experience – see 1Timothy 1: 12-16; 4:12.
Leadership is the ability to generate, communicate, and maintain commonality of purpose’ - Unknown
4/. HE LEADS WITH CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE
Whilst God calls for and demands discipline from His creatures and especially from those who are His chosen people and those who would lead them, it should never be forgotten that He himself is ever disciplined and controlled in all His attitudes and actions. He is in absolute and perfect control in relation to His own perfect nature and doings and gives the lead for all who would believe in Him and represent Him. There is an abiding to righteousness, fairness and justice and so all who would be His delegates must maintain a consistent discipline in all things – see Genesis 18: 25.
5/. HE LEADS WITH ETERNAL CONSIDERATIONS
What influences Him in all His leadership is that He works to an eternal programme with His creatures. He is the Eternal and always maintains an eternal perspective in His dealings with those whom He concerned. Whilst taking into account the temporary and transitory He possesses the final factor and works to this end – Romans 8: 28. With creatures of time He has eternity ever in view and so those who would serve Him effectively must likewise possess this feature.
‘True wisdom consists not in seeing what is immediately before our eyes, but in foreseeing what is to come’ -Terence
6/. HE LEADS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT HIS LEADERSHIP AT TIMES IS REJECTED
Of course, He desires that the whole of His creatures will accept His leadership but if not, He still gives the right and good leads. There is no change in His nature or conduct but a continual endeavour to make His creatures see that they need to bow and bend to His leadership. He does not use imposition or coercion but graciously desires all to submit to His rule and reign. In no way will He amend His attitude or approach. So leaders copying Him must not become irate or disillusioned but keep a beautiful manner and outlook even when their leadership is not appreciated.
CONCLUSION
Learn all you can of and from God with respect to His leadership and as you adopt the same so you will meet His approval and be successful.
