Lead Us

Hey everyone. We started a new series this past Wednesday called "Legacy". A legacy is something handed down by a predecessor. Something passed down. Left behind. Something a person is known for. I feel like God is reminding all of us that we will all leave a legacy in this world. It will either honor Him or the world. What legacy are you leaving right now in our world? What are you leaving behind at your school? What are you known for at your job? What will you be known for in life? This is the underlying premiss of this whole series.

The first legacy I want us to look at together is the legacy of leadership. Leadership is vital. It can be over glorified at times yet without it nothing happens in our world. Leaders are people who create change. They take people from one place to another. Leaders are simply people who influence the world around them. A lot of people think they are leaders. People with titles and positions but that never means they are true leaders. The test of a true leader is simply this: Leaders have followers. If you think you are a leader look behind you. Is there anyone following you? Anyone imitating you? If not, then you aren't leading anyone. We need to be people who are leading our world in every aspect of life. From faith to science, to entertainment and politics. Followers of Christ should be the most influential people in the world. Are you leaving this legacy behind you? Are you LIVING this legacy out right now?

If you read the story of Joshua you will see that this legacy is evident all around him. Joshua was Moses' aid. His number two guy. He was with him all the time. Moses dies and God picks Joshua to take his place. Really, really, really big shoes to fill. (I think that is why in the first chapter of Joshua God constantly tells Joshua to "be strong and courageous". You think he was a little nervous? Ha!) So in Joshua chapter 1 God tells Joshua, "you will lead these people...". Why Joshua? What did he have that would make God choose him? What made him a great leader?

First, he didn't wait for things to happen, he made them happen. It is called Initiative. The ability to take action. To start something. To engage in the world around you. To see something that needs to be done and do something about it. Followers wait for others to step up and take action. Leaders do it. Joshua did. He immediately gets the people ready and pushes forward to take the land (Joshua 1:10-11) Are you waiting for something to change or are you taking action to make the change? This is what pioneers do. They blaze the trials. They lead the way. Now, notice in this first chapter that Joshua only moves out when God tells him. It is a very important thing to notice. A true leader will listen to God's voice and take action when it is time. Are you sitting on your hands waiting or are you on your feet moving?

The second thing to notice about Joshua was he saw what others did not. It is called Vision. Flashback to Numbers 13-14. Moses and the people are about to take the land. Moses sends out twelve spies to scout it out first. Ten of the twelve come back with a negative report. They saw giants. They saw huge fortress like cities. People who would crush them. They saw themselves as grasshoppers. This report spread throughout the camp bringing fear to all the people. Now the other two spies saw something different. There names? Joshua and Caleb. (I love these dudes!) They saw the fruit of the land. The cattle. The lush vegetation. The potential that it had. They could see themselves there. They also saw the giant people and big cities. They saw all the same stuff the others saw but they knew that God would help them take the land. They saw what "should" have been. That is vision. The ability to see what could be and turning it into something that should be. Leaders must be able to see what others cannot. Joshua saw the big picture (and Caleb). Can you see our world changing? Can you see your friends finding Christ? Can you see good prevailing? Justice and love wining? Vision inspires others to act. It is contagious. Without it we wander around. The people in this story didn't listen to Joshua and so they had to wander in the desert for 40 years until they died off and a new generation grew up. A generation who unfortunately had to pay for their parents lack of vision. We cannot lead our world if we cannot see past it.

Another thing to see in Joshua is that he paid the price. It is called Sacrifice. As I just mentioned he had to wander in the desert too for something he didn't believe or do. Talk about unfair. He also was a servant to Moses. He gave up his time and life to serve the man of God. He sacrificed a lot. Joshua did what it took to advance those around him. Leaders do this. They pay the price to become a leader BUT they also pay a price to stay one. Leaders must live by higher standards than those around them. They might have to give up things. As a leader, and Christian, you will live your whole life under a microscope. Meaning, people are going to look at every aspect of your life. Every detail will be magnified. Looking for some flaws. Inconsistencies. Anything. The Bible tells us that leaders in churches must live "above reproach" meaning you live in such a way that you give people nothing to question your life with. Leaders pay the price. They earn the right to lead and and they earn the right to stay. Are you willing to pay the price? Before you answer one way or the other remember that anything worth having or being a part of will and should cost you something.

A forth thing to notice about Joshua and all leaders in general is they are always striving to grow. It is called Teachability. Moses taught Joshua many things. Notice also what God says in Joshua 1. He tells Joshua to basically never stop reading the Law. To meditate on it day and night. To constantly engage himself with God's Word. Flash back forty plus years. Moses is in the Tent of Meeting, a place where he would talk with God. Joshua would go wherever Moses went so he was there too. Moses finishes and leaves but Joshua stays. He stays in the tent a little longer (Exodus 33:11). He was only the "intern" at this stage in his life. Joshua stayed a little longer in the presences of God. He pushed himself to get closer. Leaders always push themselves to be better. They don't want to settle for mediocre living. Leaders are never satisfied with the status quo. Average is enemy. It is not what God has designed us to be. We are human, a special creation made in the likeness of God. No other created thing can boast of that. We are created to live life to the fullest. And we must prepare ourselves to do that. Are you teachable? Are you pushing yourself to grow in Him? In wisdom? Leaders never stop learning.

Finally, Joshua was a product of someone investing in his life. It is called Mentoring. Leaders invest into the lives of others. Moses invested his life into Joshua and I'm willing to bet anything that Joshua did the same to someone else. Paul invested into Timothy and Titus. Jesus invested into the twelve. Leaders understand that in order for the vision to continue it must be caught and practiced by the next generation. Are you duplicating yourself? Here is a very raw and sometimes disturbing question regarding this point: WHO IS GOING TO TAKE YOUR PLACE WHEN YOU LEAVE? Not just when you die but when you move on in life. There is value in pouring your life into others. Remember you are a product of someone pouring into you. I am a product of someone mentoring me. Leaders invest into other potential leaders. We cannot afford to neglect the next generation.

So leadership is valuable. It is needed. We are leaders. We are catalysts for change in our society. Are you leading or following? Are you walking in your God given role or are you compromising it for a safer, more easier path? Leave a legacy of leadership and we will see this world change...