The “Shepherd Style” of leadership… David, great king of Israel and Judah, was not as his best wearing a crown on his head, but with a shepherd staff in his hand leading God’s flock! (And God never let him forget that… His call was to“Shepherd my people Israel!”)
May godly leaders today never forget that!
The cultural, ethical and political inclination today is to believe that what is right or wrong – the right choice or best way – is determined by a popular vote. We like to “follow the crowd” – it’s the easy way. There’s a lot of support there. From a Biblical perspective, however, nothing could be further from the truth!
Here’s what Jesus taught…
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. But the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13–14 ESV)
The right way is the Jesus way – He modeled it, taught it, and died for it! It is a way revealed by revelation (God’s word), not by popular opinion polls or a vote. It requires a backbone of steel (not Jello). It is counter-cultural, not accommodating. You follow the Lord, not your own inclinations and desires. It submits to God… It says what Jesus said, when faced with what was difficult, dangerous, painful, and inconvenient…“Not my will, but Thine be done!”
I’ve got a choice now… and every day of my life! Who will I follow? Which road will I take? I’ve chosen to be a Jesus-follower… and I’m still learning what that means for me every day of my life! The Bible declares, It is a “narrow, hard way, that leads to life” and my experience is the popular culture is NOT on that road (in fact “those who find it are few”). Doesn’t matter… I’ve chosen to follow Jesus!
