Leader who LOVES is a Leader who DEVELOPS

This is a Valentine’s Day week special post on leadership. If you are a TL, a CEO, a ministry leader, a church/fellowship leader, a parent, a Sunday school teacher, a VBS Director or one who influences others (by his/her ideas, speeches, writings, art) or you are a one who is aspiring to become a leader then this post is for you.

A leader who LOVES is a leader who DEVELOPS. God entrusts people in our hands so that we may develop them like us and more than like us, to become leaders, as Jesus said and did.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12 NKJV)

We will meditate on a portion from the Scriptures, Luke 9:28-36 to study on how Jesus loved His disciples by developing them. Jesus loved all His disciples and He chose twelve among them and here we see Jesus taking three of them with Him.

To develop means to pray along

“Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.” Luke 9:28 (ESV)

Jesus takes Peter, John and James to pray along with Him. Praying along with the chosen leaders is Jesus’ method of developing leaders. Do we involve our people in our prayer? As leaders we need to pray for them and as well pray with them.

To develop means to share, to be open

“And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah” Luke 9:29-30 (ESV)

Here is a leader who does not hide his special appointments to his subordinates. To develop leaders we need to take them along to important appointments and need to be open about our “high” connections to them.

To develop means to allow mistakes

“And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.” Luke 9:33 (ESV)

Peter proposes to build a tent for them to stay, which the Bible says he said not knowing what he was suggesting. But Jesus allowed him to talk, to make mistake. He did not condemn him. We need to allow our subordinates to make mistakes, even if we know that they may not do it right or speak correctly.

To develop means to make feel comfortable, to allow to speak up

We could also see that Peter did not fear to speak up. I think that’s the kind of welcoming and comfortable Jesus must have made His disciples feel. Jesus’ greatness and position and divinity did not threaten the disciples nor make them go into a shell. Do we make people comfortable to speak up and share their opinions?

To allow God to intervene & operate

“As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”” Luke 9:34-35 (ESV)

Though Peter’s suggestion was not appropriate or “divinely inspired” we see Jesus not stopping him or condemning him. But rather allows God the Father to intervene. While developing leaders we should not only allow them to make mistakes, but allow God to intervene. Do we allow God to operate in their lives – to speak to them, to guide them or do we impatiently intervene and criticize them?

To allow God to control

When people’s ideas appear absurd or unsatisfactory we might tend to make them listen to us and to do according to what we say. But here we see Jesus allowing God to do that part. People should not listen to us because we command them to do so, but should listen as they are stirred by God. Do we tend to control people ourselves or allow God to steer and stir them?

This Valentine’s Week let’s be such leaders who are truly loved by our colleagues and subordinates, by showing our true love to them by developing them.

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