The Leader in You (10/12/2009)

Day after day, new men came to join David, and soon he had a large, powerful army. (1 Chronciles 12:22)

Do other people in or around your life often call you a leader, or consider you a leader because of something you may have done, the way you behave, or maybe the way to reacted to a certain situation.

Here’s a question for you – do YOU consider yourself a leader??

I was reading somewhere last week where most kids in high school would answer NO to that question. The article talked about how today’s teenagers would rather remain safe as part of the crowd and be followers rather than stick their neck out and draw attention to themselves by trying to take charge, or, try to be a leader. Now, a lot of people that get this devotional are teenagers that I know who are definitely not followers and rarely remain silent. You guys know who you are.

In 1 Chronicles 12:22, David finds out something pretty cool – that is, you can become a leader without even trying to take charge of a specific situation, or without trying to make stuff happen. What I am trying to say is this – if YOU commit yourself to following God, others will definitely notice and want to join you.

Maybe not right away.

Any maybe not in the way you expect.

You see, our culture tends to reach us that leadership somehow comes automatically with getting a position – like a supervisor at work, an elected politician, or even an “officer” or “leader” position in a club or group.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Because leadership has nothing to do with titles, or positions of authority.

Leadership is all about influence. And for those of us who are committed to following God, it’s all about getting people to do the right things in life.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “peer pressure” until you’re ready to scream! You know, how there’s no away to avoid it, how it ruins lives, that kind of thing. But, look at it this way – what if YOU were the person exerting the pressure, and NOT your peers. Can you imagine what would happen in people’s lives if YOU “pressured” people to not party or not pick on the weak or not blow off spiritual growth? Can you imagine how YOU could change people’s lives, starting TODAY, by encouraging them to help the weak, have fun in ways that honor God, or not feat to talk about what they believe?

Wow.

So, do you have what it takes to be a leader?

Guess what?

No matter what others or you think of you as a “leader,” you have what it takes. Because you have God’s Holy Spirit in you. And that’s all you need.

Now, are you ready to take advantage of the opportunities God gives you? You don’t have to be a jock, or the class President, or a leader in your youth group.

YOU can be a leader among your friends, or in your school, or a your job, or in your neighborhood, or even in your youth group, starting right now. All you have to do is have the desire to do what you know is right, do it what is right, and people will follow.