LEADERSHIP TIPS Sunday 1 April

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:3-10

The grace of God grants access to the unqualified. In the early church, there were a privileged few who ever saw the resurrected Lord. Even fewer were those called as apostles. But we find in Paul, a man who did terrible harm to the church, who was not satisfied with just harming Christians locally but planned to carry out his devious plans on an international scale (Acts 9:1-2), he even stood as surety for men who broke the law (John 18:31) in lynching and murdering Stephen (Acts 22:20), both seeing the resurrected Lord and being called as an apostle. That is pure grace! Even though Paul was chosen by God to propagate the gospel right from his mother’s womb (Galatians 1:15), the Lord did not give up on him when he was fanatically fighting against his own destiny. He turned out to be a staunch follower of the Lord and a man addicted to serving Him, even laboring more than those called before him.

There are some lessons here for leaders. First, even when your subordinates disappoint, do not give up on them. If Jesus had given up on his disciples, Christianity would have been buried a long time ago. Also, even when your subordinates are very slow in complying with certain directives, be patient with them: do not be too quick to hit or condemn them. We also learn that sometimes, meeting the individual needs of your assistants and subordinates will enable you get more commitment from them. To this end, it is good to invest in them and ensure they have the best. Love is a great weapon that can break down the defences of the disobedient. Just love and pray more for the disobedient with a lot of care and they can have a change of mind. The leader who is vengeful will easily lose his or her helpers. Just as with children, not all your assistants will develop at the same pace. Care is needed to raise them up to be able workers and ministers in the vineyard or in your business. Even when your ministers or workers fail you, do not withdraw your assistance. That may be when they need it most. Assisting someone who has betrayed you can turn that fellow around to become a staunch supporter. Also, there is a right time to say what should be said and a right manner of doing it so as to achieve the desired result. What kind of leader are you?

PRAYER POINT:

A true leader is identified by the value he places on his subordinates. Father, every iota of foolishness in my life and in the lives of members of my family, turn into wisdom. 

Bible in one year: Isaiah 25-27