Scripture: Philippians 2:3
Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves.
Thought for the Day: Today, I am facilitating a workshop on leadership. Though I am not mentioning the above passage, it sure popped into my mind more than once as I was preparing. A spirit of humility is a cornerstone for any effective leader, but how exactly does a leader act with humility when “others” are doing things that undermine the mission of the church? Too often leaders assume that humility keeps us from confronting or naming bad behavior. Humility is not passive. When thinking of others as better than ourselves, we are thinking of individuals along with the body. It is a dance, often done imperfectly and with full knowledge of God’s grace. Humility continues to love everyone, even those we might need to call out. We name bad behavior, not because we hate someone, but because we believe that love shared through humility has the capacity of redeeming and transforming the situation. It can be tough, and we always need to be discerning in regard to our true motives. At the same time, bad behavior too often inspires more bad behavior in the life of the church. It doesn’t take long before the mission is lost amidst what I will call in my workshop, “Gospel Distractions.”
Prayer: May I be humble, loving and driven by the mission you set before me. By your Spirit, Lord, I wish to find the right balance when it all becomes messy and murky. Amen.
See You Sunday
