Disciple-leader 

(Biblical leadership) 

We tend to look at this topic as addressing leadership within the church, if we look at it at all...

This devotional is about lifestyle leadership: walking, talking, living, breathing. This is about being a 'disciple,' a follower of Jesus - a 'Christian.'

This is about taking 'a road less traveled.' Or, we could use another cliché, 'marching to a different drumbeat.'

Get the picture?

Let's look at God's instruction to His people (that would include you, right?) in Deuteronomy 4:1

Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 

Why would I think that this could be applied to Christians in the 21st Century? If there isn't allegorical application of God speaking to the Jews in the Old Testament - to Christians today, we should just throw the O.T. away and use the New Testament exclusively as our 'rule of faith and conduct.'

I'm not willing to do that. I believe that there is the possibility of tremendous lessons of God's character that can be applied to our lives today, taken from the Old Testament.

Here is one of them: I believe that within the sovereignty of God you are ready to step into the next phase of life. God would have you to "take possession of the land that the Lord...is giving you."

Follow His direction and leading. That would require the assumption that you are seeking Him and wanting to live in close relationship with Him.

Step up to the plate and swing with purpose. I've always loved baseball. My biggest problem as a batter was my tendency to swing hard and not necessarily well.

Don't live your life hard, live it well, live it with purpose. Believe that God is directing your footsteps and walk with purpose. Don't hesitate and don't look back.

A dear friend, Catherine McGuckin (translator in Papua New Guinea) said during one of their visits here at Christ's Church, "You cannot steer a parked car..."

Keep in the rotation, sometimes you are 'at field,' sometimes you are 'at bat.' At all times stay in the game. Encourage those coming up to the plate. Encourage those feeling stranded at second. Encourage those in the bull pen. Encourage those who have walked, and when you run, run well.