於2015-09-20發佈

主題:跟隨領袖
日期:2015年9月7日
作者:Diane Lake

你們該效法我,像我效法基督一樣。“(林前11:1)

作為一個新的事工領袖,我記得曾熱情地告訴我們的會眾來看著我,因為我打算去擁抱在基督裡我全然的命定。我相信,這就像徹底和全心地追隨祂一樣的簡單。

這幾乎是十年前的事了,但我仍然相信同樣的事情。當我們跟隨基督,並激勵其他人也如此行,我們可以為了神國度的目的而來影響我們的世界。其中一個最有力來影響別人的方式是通過在基督裡的榜樣來領導他們。

不光是人氣

耶穌對他們說:「來跟從我,我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。」。”(太4:19)

有件有趣的事是關於耶穌呼召喚四名漁民當祂的門徒。雖是這樣一個簡單的邀請,但它迫使他們得離開他們的生計和家庭來跟隨一個他們才剛剛碰面的人!

不只是門徒耶穌規勸要來跟隨祂。在與陷入通姦罪的女人說完之後,耶穌又告訴在場的人們,“ 我是世界的光。跟從我的,就不在黑暗裡走,必要得著生命的光。“(約翰福音8:12)。當我們跟隨祂的光,我們就成為世界的光!(注1)

有幾次,當然的,大群的人們跟隨著耶穌,而其他的時候,幾乎每個人都背棄祂。而當彼得三次否認主之後,在主復活後得著恢復,耶穌將之帶回原點所用的言辭就是,“跟從我吧”。(注2)

擁有大批追隨者雖然可以是好的,數字並不一定是一個好的領導者的標誌。耶穌從來沒有因著大群群眾的出現而銘刻於心,因為祂理解人心善變的本質 - 有時人群跟著,只是因著想要有免費的午餐!(注3)

領導者的心

你要保守你心,勝過保守一切(或譯:你要切切保守你心),因為一生的果效是由心發出“。(箴4:23)

我聽到有人說,當我們站在神的面前,我們唯一仍然會從我們在地上的生命中所持有的,就是我們的性格。性格是指人真正的內心 - 或是內部自然的特質 - 一個女人或男人的。任何渴望在任何層次上做為領導者的人們,都應該要養成誠信(integrity)的特質。

謙卑(humility)是一個領導者應具的另一個重要特質。當耶穌心甘情願地擱置了祂神的特權,成為人的樣式,謙卑自己甚至死在十字架上時,就為我們設下了終極的例子。(參腓2:5-8)(注4)

為僕的最大的例證也許是耶穌為門徒洗腳。之前祂當然有教導過他們這項原則,但這次祂選擇了來做給他們看。祂說,“我給你們作了榜樣,叫你們照著我向你們所做的去做“。(約翰福音13:15)(注5)

當一個領導者跟隨一個領導者時是有些這麼引人注目的事情。即使是耶穌也跟隨 - 正如祂自己被天父所帶領。基本上是一個敬虔的領導者說,“當我跟隨基督時來跟隨我,如同祂跟隨天父般!“

就像一棵樹

“ 他必像樹栽於水旁…炎熱來到,並不懼怕…在乾旱之年毫無掛慮,而且結果不止”(耶17:8)

耶穌在服事3年半前生活了30年 - 幾乎是10比1的準備對比演出的比例。領導力的表現往往需要一段時間的發展。那些在小事情上忠心的,將會看到大量的釋放出來。

主已經隱藏祂許多忠心的僕人,直到有合適的時機出現。例如約瑟和以斯帖,兩者在成為領導者前都經歷過一段時間的預備 – 並且也有時間這元素的介入。如約瑟的例子,一段時間的飢荒將需要一個拯救者,而以斯帖也是如此,為了特定的目的,她成為神的子民的領導者。

最近,我得著一個異象,補充了關於正確的時間這個論點。我看見一棵大樹擁有巨大的地下主幹,或是根。一根嫩枝從地表下的一點點地方露出地面;連接樹幹/根之處很淺,它就立刻彈出來了。

但另一根從樹幹長出的嫩枝是從更深得多的地下冒出來。這需要很久很長的時間才能看到這個樹幹,但它與源頭有更深的多的連結。這第二個更深的嫩枝長得更強壯,並能夠存活得更長久。如同栽於溪水旁的樹,它可以在艱困和乾旱中生存的。

沒有人願意成為那位燃燒雖快又亮,但很快熄滅的領導者。任何人都可以有領導的恩賜和呼召。但這需要經過預備以及具有強壯的人格來打場美好漂亮的仗,並跑盡當跑的路。(注6)

如果你跟隨基督,你就能帶領

也許你已經取消自己作為一個領導者的資格 - 也或許你覺得自己不夠,或是你無法戰勝克服你的過去。然而當你跟隨基督,你可以藉著樹立榜樣來領導他人。你只需要在這個過程中持之以恆。

你可以以某種方式成為社會中的領導者。每一個人都在社會中的至少一個領域裏(家庭,企業,政府,教育,媒體,藝術/娛樂,教會/宗教)具有影響力。比如留在家裡的媽媽可以通過培養孩子敬虔的性格而對社會產生巨大的影響,或者賺取工資的人們可以在工商部門造成影響。而大多數的人們都在一個以上的領域裏具有影響力。

無論你是在甚麼地方和甚麼領域,我禱告神會釋放你作為一個領導者。
 

注1:太5:14 你們是世上的光。城造在山上是不能隱藏的。
注2:約21:19 (耶穌說這話是指著彼得要怎樣死,榮耀 神。)說了這話,就對他說:「你跟從我吧!」

注3:約2:23 當耶穌在耶路撒冷過逾越節的時候,有許多人看見他所行的神蹟,就信了他的名。
約2:24 耶穌卻不將自己交託他們;因為他知道萬人,
約2:25 也用不著誰見證人怎樣,因他知道人心裡所存的。
約6:26 耶穌回答說:「我實實在在地告訴你們,你們找我,並不是因見了神蹟,乃是因吃餅得飽。
約6:27 不要為那必壞的食物勞力,要為那存到永生的食物勞力,就是人子要賜給你們的,因為人子是父 神所印證的。」

注4:腓2:5 你們當以基督耶穌的心為心:
腓2:6 他本有 神的形像,不以自己與 神同等為強奪的;
腓2:7 反倒虛己,取了奴僕的形像,成為人的樣式;
腓2:8 既有人的樣子,就自己卑微,存心順服,以至於死,且死在十字架上。

注5:太23:11 你們中間誰為大,誰就要作你們的用人。
路22:24 門徒起了爭論,他們中間哪一個可算為大。
路22:25 耶穌說:「外邦人有君王為主治理他們,那掌權管他們的稱為恩主。
路22:26 但你們不可這樣;你們裡頭為大的,倒要像年幼的,為首領的,倒要像服事人的。
路22:27 是誰為大?是坐席的呢?是服事人的呢?不是坐席的大嗎?然而,我在你們中間如同服事人的。

注6:提後4:7 那美好的仗我已經打過了,當跑的路我已經跑盡了,所信的道我已經守住了。



Follow the Leader
September 7th, 2015
By Diane Lake
http://www.generals.org/articles/single/follow-the-leader/

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1, NIV)

As a new ministry leader, I remember enthusiastically telling our congregation to watch me, as I intended to embrace my complete destiny in Christ. I was convinced that it was as simple as completely and wholeheartedly following Him.

That was almost ten years ago, but I still believe the same thing. When we follow Christ and inspire others to do the same, we can impact our world for kingdom purposes. One of the most powerful ways to influence others is to lead them by example in Christ.

More Than Popularity

“Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” (Matt. 4:19)

There’s something intriguing about the account of Jesus calling four fishermen to be His disciples. Such a simple invitation, yet it compelled them to leave their livelihood and families to follow someone they had only just met!

It was not just the disciples Jesus exhorted to follow Him. After speaking with the woman caught in adultery, Jesus told those present, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). And as we follow His light, we become that light to the world!1

There were times, of course, when great crowds followed Jesus and other times when almost everyone turned away. And when Peter, after denying the Lord three times, was restored following the resurrection, Jesus brought the discussion full circle with the reiteration of the charge, “Follow Me.”2

Although it can be great to have a large following, numbers are not necessarily the mark of a good leader. Jesus never let the crowds impress Him, for He understood the fickle nature of men’s hearts—sometimes the crowds followed because they wanted a free lunch!3

The Heart of Leadership

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23)

I’ve heard it said that when we stand before the Lord, the only thing we will still possess from our life on earth is our character. Character refers to the true heart—or inner nature—of a woman or man. Anyone desiring to be a leader in any capacity should cultivate integrity.

Humility is another essential element in a leader. Jesus set the ultimate example when He willingly laid aside His divine privileges and took on the form of a man, humbling Himself even to the point of death on a cross (see Phil. 2:5-8).

Perhaps the greatest illustration of servanthood was Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. He certainly taught them on this principle before, but this time He chose to show them. “For,” He said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).4

There’s something so compelling about a leader following a leader. Even Jesus followed—as He Himself was led by the Father. Essentially a godly leader says, “Follow me as I follow Christ as He follows the Father!”

Like A Tree

“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters… and will not fear when heat comes… and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jer. 17:8)

Jesus lived for 30 years before ministering for 3 and ½ —almost a 10 to 1 ratio of preparation to performance. Manifestation of leadership often requires a period of development. Those faithful in small things will see the release of large.

The Lord has hidden many of His faithful servants until the right time. Joseph and Esther, for example, both went through a period of preparation before emerging as leaders—but there was also an element of timing involved. In Joseph’s case, a period of famine would necessitate a deliverer, and Esther emerged as a leader of God’s people for a specific purpose, as well.

Recently, I had a vision supplementing this word about the right time. I saw a large tree with a substantial underground trunk, or root. A shoot had come up above ground from a point just below the surface; its juncture with the trunk/root was shallow, and it popped up right away.

But another shoot sprang up from this trunk at a juncture much further underground. It took far, far longer to see this shoot, but it was tapped much deeper into its source. The second and deeper shoot was much stronger and capable of lasting longer. Like the tree planted by the waters, it could survive hardship and drought.

No one wants to be that leader who burns fast and bright, but quickly goes out. Anyone can have leadership gifts and a calling. But it takes preparation and strength of character to be able to fight the good fight and finish the race.

If You Follow Christ, You Can Lead

Maybe you have disqualified yourself as a leader—perhaps you feel inadequate or that you cannot overcome your past. But as you follow Christ, you can lead someone else by example. You only need to persevere in the process.

You can be a leader of society in some way. Every person has an influence in at least one sphere of society (family, business, government, education, media, arts/entertainment, church/religion). A stay-at-home mom can have a huge impact on society by raising children with godly character, for example, or someone earning a wage can impact the business sector. And most will have an influence in more than one area.

Whatever places and spheres you occupy, I pray the Lord would release you as a leader!

 
For additional study:
Matt. 5:14
John 21:19
John 2:23-25, 6:26-27
Matt. 23:11; Luke 22:24-27