The Call to Lead

-

Scripture: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19

Illustration

In the Infantry, “Follow Me” isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command backed by action. A true leader doesn’t shout from the rear but steps forward into the unknown. Soldiers move because they see the courage of their leader, not because of a poster on the wall.

Scripture Teaching

Jesus’ first words to His disciples were the same: “Follow Me.” It wasn’t about strategy—it was about surrender. He didn’t invite them to a safe classroom but into a life of risk, service, and eternal purpose. His promise was that if they followed Him, He would transform their lives.

Reflection

Our leadership at work and home carries the same weight. Before we expect anyone to follow us, we must first be sure we’re following Him. If not, our influence becomes about our own ambition rather than His mission.

Application

  • Pause before decisions and ask, Am I following Christ or my own plan?
  • Begin your day with prayer, re-centering your leadership in Him.
  • Let others see your dependence on Christ, not just your confidence in yourself.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to follow before I lead. May those who follow me find themselves closer to You. Amen.

Popular posts from this blog

Universities Need a New Value Proposition

-
Image
Higher education is at an inflection point. Enrollment challenges, demographic shifts, rising tuition costs, and growing skepticism about the value of a four-year degree have forced colleges and universities to rethink almost every aspect of their business model. Most strategic conversations, however, continue to revolve around familiar questions. How do we recruit more students? How do we improve retention? What new academic programs should we launch? How do we distinguish ourselves from the institution down the road? Those questions matter, but I believe they miss a much larger opportunity. The universities that will define the next generation of higher education will not distinguish themselves simply because they enroll more students, build more residence halls, or climb higher in national rankings. They will distinguish themselves because they become indispensable to the economic future of the communities they serve. For generations, the value proposition of higher education was re...
Read more

The Illusion of Alignment

-
Image
A Leadership Fable Part One: The Comfortable Assumption Organizations often celebrate alignment long before they have actually achieved it. The mistake is understandable. Healthy organizations tend to exhibit many of the same characteristics as aligned organizations. People enjoy working together. Meetings are productive. Decisions are generally respected, even when not everyone initially agrees with them. Departments cooperate. Conflict is resolved professionally. Momentum builds naturally because everyone appears to be pulling in the same direction. From the outside, the distinction is almost impossible to detect. Inside the organization, it can remain hidden for years. Ethan Mercer did not discover the difference because of a crisis. There was no lost client, no failed project, no disappointing quarterly report, and no difficult conversation with the board. Alder Ridge Group was experiencing one of the strongest periods in its history. Revenue continued to exceed expectations. New o...
Read more

Lead as Christ Led — A Devotion for Christian Military Leaders

-
Image
Scripture: Mark 10:42-45 (ESV) “But Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Reflection: In the military, leadership is often defined by rank, command, and control. Authority is expected, orders are given, and missions are executed. But for the Christian leader in uniform, there is a higher standard—a kingdom standard. Jesus turns worldly leadership on its head. In  Mark 10 , He reminds His disciples (and us) that greatness in His kingdom doesn’t come through domination or prestige, but through humility and sacrificial service. This isn’t weakness; it’s strength under control. It’s leadership forg...
Read more