Never Leading Alone
By Dean Collins
I have talked to a few of my friends who have been in various leadership roles in various businesses, churches, government, and volunteer organizations, and we all had the same experience. At some point in our later 40s or 50s, we noticed that most of our mentors were no longer with us. There was a comfort in knowing that you had someone older and wiser you could ask for advice. The voice of assurance from someone who had led before was always a big encouragement. Learning to lead on your own takes courage that we sometimes aren’t sure we have.
I think both before and after the resurrection, the disciples must have struggled with if or how Jesus would be around to help them. For three years they followed him. And even when Jesus sent them out to do things on their own, they knew they would see him again, and they would be able to learn more. But as the days grew closer to the crucifixion, the disciples were perplexed and frightened by the discussion of what was coming. They certainly had trouble understanding everything Jesus said and were possibly in denial about his coming departure.
But the resurrection proved that Jesus was back! While we know from Luke’s gospel and from Acts that Jesus appeared to the disciples several times and taught them about the kingdom of God, it wasn’t constant like it had been at other times in their training. More change was coming.
And then the disciples saw and heard the moment together. They were given the assignment to proclaim the message of Christ to the nations, or in Matthew’s version of the event, “to go into all the world.” Jesus added that they were to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit, when they would receive power from on high. And then Jesus raised his hands and was carried into the clouds.
In the first chapter of Acts, it took two angels to interrupt the blank stares of the disciples as they were frozen looking at the ascension of their Rabbi, the resurrected Christ. And while they did go to pray and wait, we can only imagine that they wondered what things were going to be like now that they were tasked with making disciples without Jesus standing nearby like they had known him to do.
What they didn’t seem to understand at first is the same thing that you and I often forget: Jesus is with us! He is alive! And he gave us the Holy Spirit as a constant guide and helper in everything we do. We may not be able to look over our shoulder and see Jesus physically, but his presence is with us, in us, now and forever.
Our mentors may one day not be around. I have found that in their absence two things seem to always be available to me as I take on various leadership roles.
1) I can remember the things my mentors taught me and showed me by their example. Godly wisdom was passed down to me, and I have a responsibility and a privilege to share that wisdom with others.
2) Just as the Holy Spirit guided my mentors, the Holy Spirit guides me. And truthfully, one of the lessons we learn is that we must turn to and lean on this precious gift of God’s Spirit if we are to lead well and do the work he has called us to do. Trying to go it alone never works particularly well.
Today, take a moment and thank God for those leaders who invested in you. Then take time to pray with confidence that the Holy Spirit will not only guide you after your prayers but will even advocate for you through your prayers. And finally, quit staring into space and get out there and do what Jesus asks us to do. Make disciples.
Father, thank you for never leaving us! Thank you for filling us with your Holy Spirit and calling us to proclaim the good news of Jesus wherever we go through our words and actions. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:10-11 ESV
Photo by Pexels
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