Joshua 1:1-2 (AMP)
1 Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant (attendant), saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore [a]arise [to take his place], cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the [b]sons of Israel.
Moses my servant is dead therefore arise and take his place, these were the words of God to Joshua. Joshua did not appoint himself to the position; God is the one who appointed him. Looking back, you will also realize that Moses did not appoint himself to be the leader over Israel. He was busy minding his own business tending after his father in law’s sheep at the back side of the mountain when he had the experience with the burning bush and God called and appointed him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Leadership is a call from God that you and I have to respond to. As much as it may be a position that comes with a title with all manner of other things, it is first a call from God meaning He has the agenda for the call.
As someone once said, the simplest definition of leadership is Influence. God is calling you and I to influence others to move in a particular direction. Now you may look at yourself and say “But I am not a pastor and neither do I have any kind of leadership role or responsibility in the church so this does not concern me.” Well let me take you back to the last words of Jesus before He ascended back to heaven.
Matthew 28:19-20 (AMP)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
That sounds like a call, an invitation to leadership for everyone who calls themselves a disciple of Christ. He has extended the call to us His disciples to influence others to be like Him, to know Him and in turn lead others to Him.
Have you embraced the call to lead? Did you even realize that you have been called to lead? If you did not, now you do. Just like He called Moses or Joshua, He has called you, embrace the call and influence others to love Him and be like Him.
