City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:39

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

Reflection

A common misconception about leadership is that it gives the leader freedom to do what he wants. Jesus was the greatest leader who ever lived. He trained up 11 men in three years in the midst of an oppressive Roman government and hostile Jewish religious establishment, and without writing a book or firing shot created a movement that has reached every corner of the earth and changed the world. And Jesus secured the centerpiece of His accomplishment—His redemptive death on the cross—not by doing His own will but by subordinating His will to that of the Father as a sacrifice for others.

Jesus’ example demonstrates that great leadership is, at its core, great sacrifice. As Paul notes in his letter to the Romans, a person would be reluctant to die even for a good man, but while we were yet in full rebellion against Him, Jesus died for us. (Romans 5:6-8) Such sacrifice indeed demonstrates God’s love for us, but it was only made possible by Jesus’ obedience to the Father. 

Great leadership is forged in obedience to the Father and manifests in sacrifice, and Jesus is its greatest example.

Application

Do you see your opportunity to lead as a time to do what you want or as a time to sacrifice for others?

Prayer

Lord help me to obedient to you in all things, especially in leading, so that I might sacrifice for others. Amen.