2021 Daily Devotion - Day 317

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"Leadership is influence." - Pastor John Maxwell

Many people never think of themselves as being leaders. They see leadership as a process where someone is chosen to be a leader. As a result, they rarely take action and see themselves as followers of those who have been designated as leaders. I would take this statement to its next step and say everyone has some level of influence on someone else. Therefore, everyone is a leader.

So, what are we going to do with our influence and leadership of others? My prayer is we would use it for a Christ-centered purpose. Too many of us remain silent with others when it comes to our faith. We say things like “my lifestyle is my witness” or “it is a private matter”. So let’s examine these two outlooks for a moment. When we say our lifestyle is our witness for Christ, we need to remember people might see the good things we do, but they might also see the sin and brokenness in our lives. Isn’t this why so many people say they won’t go to church – because it is filled with hypocrites? And if we say it is a private matter, we need to deal with Jesus who commanded us to “go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28).

So, let us reconsider the use of our influence. And let us use it as a leader to bring others to Christ Jesus.

Matthew 9:38 ESV
“Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Pray with me:
Lord Jesus Christ, here You have asked us to pray for more laborers being sent into the harvest. As we pray for this, we do so fully aware that we, too, are meant to be one of those who is sent and who obeys. Through Your Holy Spirit, give us the courage to use our influence to lead others to You. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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