Adventure

Lead Courageously

If you thought that, as a man, you could just follow on someone else’s shirt tail and not make decisions or lead when it is necessary, let me help you understand what God demands of us, as men. Let me help you understand why, seeking to never be responsible as a leader, is far from what God has had in store for you and for men in general.

Read below and begin to lead, in whatever situation you find yourself. Learn how to be a good leader, even if it is just yourself that you are leading.

We are called to lead courageously.

Joshua 24:15 says;

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

If we look at this verse, alone, we see it somewhat out of context, It looks as if Joshua stood up in the midst of those who were choosing other gods and made a declaration of who he would serve.

Now, if we look at the verse in context, say, verse 14 through 24, we see something different.

14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, 
17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 
18 And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” 
19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 
20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 
21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” 
22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 
23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 
24 And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
Joshua stood up for God, took control and lead with truth on his side. He challenged the people, making sure that they were not just repeating what he wanted to hear, but choosing God from their hearts. He challenged them, then forced them to answer, but, gave them a way out if they so chose to follow the god’s of their fathers.
So, this screams for me to ask you this question, (Yes, I am looking straight at you with those intense eyes!) Who do you follow?
14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 
The first step in true leading is learning how to follow. Only, learning how to follow is not near as important as knowing who to follow. So, I ask again, who will you follow?
 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 
 If you are still not sure that you want to follow Christ, then I ask that you take a look on your past and see what He has already done for you.
It is a man’s responsibility to step up and lead, sometimes in the front, as a general leading his troops to battle and sometimes as a dad, gently explaining why something is right or wrong. Either way, you lead.
If you are looking for a biblical example of what true leadership looks like, then read the Gospels and see what Jesus did. Follow in His footsteps and learn to serve so that you can truly lead.

 

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