By Ambrose .J.Chakre
Without a heart of compassion it is impossible to sacrifice our time and efforts for the cause. Without a compassionate heart a leader would be labeled as a power abuser. That is particularly true in the field of secular leadership and that is prevalent even in the Christian leadership but that is an attitude which shouldn’t be present in a Christian leader. Without an attitude of compassion a Christian leader would be labeled as a grace abuser. That is not a term which is enviable but that is what some of us are. In order not to have that infamous term related to us we need to know where we are lacking in the areas of spiritual leadership. Those spiritually led are admirably compassionate. Contrary to that those humanly led are detestably aggressive and heartless. In the absence of grace, ungrace makes its presence felt. The attitude of ungrace in a person makes the person disgraceful. This is not to highlight this unwanted attitude but this is to create awareness about the devastating consequences of it. This keeps people from coming closer to the way of truth.
A spiritual leader is expected to be graceful, not monstrous. Those spiritually led are usually graceful and compassionate towards the masses. Since their concern towards them is genuine their attitude towards them is graceful. A heart of compassion is what characterizes such people. Their actions and their approach to life speaks a lot about them. The emotional attachment they have towards them makes them feel the urgency to be spiritually attached. If your compassion towards them is genuine, you will be definitely passionate in what you do. And people follow someone who is passionate in what he or she does. The godly passion in evidenced in your facial expression. Your face glows when the godly passion inside you burns. According to the passionate impulses in you, your works will be determined by your involvement in it.
In addition to the virtue of humility in you, you have to compliment it by having a firm and strong character which will ultimately define the person in you. The person in you defines your worth. Wisdom is the requirement that determines the level of your influence. John Wesley the founder of the Methodist church is a prominent example of humility in action. He was from an aristocratic background but his early congregations were the daily laborers. With the wisdom imparted in him, he started small which in the process started growing at an enormous rate which ultimately gave birth to the church in what is now known as the Methodist. This is the power of grace which was bestowed on him. There are many whom God used in a mighty way. They are what they are because they did what they had to do. And you can be what you will be if you do what you have to do.
Not everyone is called to be a leader but if you feel that you are called, consider it as a blessing and a responsility for you to carry. You can reach the top by thinking of yourself less. This may sound foolish in the eyes of the world but this is the godly wisdom which only the godly can understand. If you take heed, someday your efforts will definitely bear fruit. That will be when you will witness the promise. The further you want to go you have to be realistically wise. It will be through the wisdom you apply that will determine what your worth as a leader is. The usage of these guidelines will further the purpose of the cause and you quest for it.
If you walk and work passionately towards it, you will taste and see the fruit of your labour. If you want to reach the full potential, you have to know what is essential for your journey towards it. Once you know what it is, believe that it will happen and it will definitely happen according to His will.