Leaders of Tens

A leader is a person who guides, directs, and or manages a group of people. We all must follow leaders, while simultaneously leading others, sometimes in the same organization.  Some leaders we like, others we do not, usually determined by how closely they do things like we already want to do them.  This is not for a management class, but for us to consider as the Church of Jesus Christ.  God created us to follow him, and also instituted leadership in His people.  These leaders would follow God and would lead the masses to follow him also.  See how God used Jethro to show Moses this concept:

“So Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.” Exodus 18:17-22

Moses tried to do it all himself; teach, lead, judge, counsel, and so forth and it was not doing the nation any good.  So Jethro, led by God, showed Moses a better way; allowing Moses to continue to lead the nation, but also use devout men to share the burden of the masses.  Today we see many churches operating in the former way, relying fully on the abilities of a pastor to lead, teach, counsel, etc. within their congregations.  Eventually this model limits the church’s reach to the abilities of one man.  We are all called to be leaders through the Great Commission.  A commission is the granting of authority to act as an agent, on behalf of another.  We are commissioned to lead the world to Christ.  Those who are given much, are also required much; and we have been given the great gospel message.  Whether it be for a family of two, a company of ten, a church of hundreds, or a nation of millions; God expects us to be faithful with what he has given us.  When you are faithful to share His Word, we know it will not return void. (Isaiah 55)

"All of you stand today before the Lord your God: your leaders and your tribes and your elders and your officers, all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones and your wives--also the stranger who is in your camp, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water-- 12 that you may enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath, which the Lord your God makes with you today,”Deut 29:10-12

It's Who You Know

   “It’s all about who you know.”  A simple Google search on the internet reveals many quotes of this phrase or variations on it, such as “it’s not what you know, but who you know.”  Most of these come from business sources, talking about expanding your sphere of influence and networking.  Have you ever thought of how blessed you are to know the people around you?  And especially the person(s) who told you the gospel. 

   An uncounted blessing often is religious freedom, to worship as you choose.  While we would have everyone worship Christ as we do, the choice to follow Jesus, gives Him more glory than a forced devotion.  The freedom we have also allows us to share our beliefs with others.  We can be the ones to lead a family member, co-worker, or friend to the Savior and Lord.  As Romans states, “blessed are the feet of those who carry the gospel. . .”

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, ^g Who bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:15

   My thoughts were spurred in reaction to the horrible situation of the Poynter’s.  Once I heard of their plight, I began thinking of how I could help, and made a couple of contacts to show support and attempt to find help through my network of friends.  I was soon humbled when considering how quickly I jumped in to help one of my friends; yet there have been times when no effort was made to help people because I did not “know” them.  I still have a ways to go towards, “love your enemies,” or even friendly acquaintances.  If you are like me, we need to work on both, getting to know others and loving our enemies.

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” Matthew 5:44

   Beyond helping to meet needs for others, the gospel is still our greatest need.  Be in prayer for Jeremy Lewcyzk and the missionary team in the Philippines who are trying to tell people who do not “know” Jesus.   There are also untold numbers of missionaries seeking new relationships with the intention of introducing others to the gospel.  Who are we seeking to introduce to Jesus?  Certainly at the Great White Throne, we will all believe it is “Who you know” that matters.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Matthew 7:21-23