Word for the day "4 front line Kingdom principles for the Godly family"
Luke 12:48 (NKJV) For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him, they will ask the more.
When you have weak leaders on the front lines, the entire family, organization, marriage, business, and ministry are in a position to fail.
To correct such leadership insufficiency, it falls to each of these entities to make proper investments in leadership development.
I will be sharing four provocative insights for the family organization in today’s leadership message, especially during this time of COVID-19:
Consideration- The godly husband is to lead his family. We are to lead our family.
Though so many may assume that this is a kind of leadership that has to do with fear and dictatorship, the Bible teaches something very different.
When speaking of male leadership, the Bible gives us the quintessential example of front line leadership.
“For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior” (Ephesians 5:23).
The husband is to be head of his wife in the same way that Christ is head of his church. And what kind of headship did Christ offer the church?
It epitomized love, and was not a dictatorship but was an expression of being gentle and humble.
Christ loved the church so much that he never did anything vulgar to her, he never did anything unfitting, and he never did anything angry or unjust.
1. Front line Leaders Lead the way– There are multiple areas or dimensions of leadership within the nuclear family structure.
The wife leads areas of the family unit, and older children may assume leadership in some areas.
In a household that includes in-laws or non-family members, there may be more levels of leadership even than that. But as the husband, you are the leader of leaders.
You are responsible for the overall direction, vision, administration of the family.
We see this, in Scripture, in (I Timothy 3:12), where we find among the qualifications for a ministry leadership that they must manage their children and their household well.
Front line leaders manage well by leading the way. This is more like to him who much is given much is required (Luke 12:48).
This is an opportunity for you to serve your family through godly, servant leadership. As the leader of the leaders, you ensure that others are leading as they should, that they are leading in the best possible way.
You will find diplomatic and dignified means of providing that others are leading well and that they are doing what they should as they should.
2. Front line Leaders lead in Worship– The godly husband leads his family in worship.
He actively sees to it that the family members are worshiping and that they are worshiping in a way that is consistent with Scripture.
You on the front lines also need to lead at times in corporate worship and prayer.
You exercise a godly influence and take the lead in corporate worship, not only in ensuring that your family attends church or a spiritually connected time but also actively engaged in the choice of church or spiritual time.
Front line leaders need to lead in personal worship and private time. The godly husband knows the value of personal devotions.
You must be committed to spending time one-on-one with God through the reading of the Word and prayer.
A godly husband will do more than ensure he is spending his own time in the Word and prayer.
He will also seek to encourage his beloved wife to do the same. This may mean helping her find the time, perhaps by giving her a few minutes in the evening by helping with the home and children.
3. Front line Leaders lead as a Father– The husband is the one who is ultimately responsible for his children.
Too many men have redirected this responsibility, assuming that the mother is the one who is primarily responsible for the upbringing of the children.
But no, it is you, the father, who must lead your children.
It is not without importance that the Bible’s warnings to raise godly children are directed not at wives but at husbands.
Fathers are primarily responsible for growing and influencing the children, not just in sports and leisure.
Fathers, it is ultimately you who bear responsibility before God to ensure that children are raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
You must take the lead and bear the responsibility in teaching and influencing your children in the way of God.
In many instances, this has been delegated to others–mothers, teachers, Sunday school teachers, and so on.
But you are the one who leads your children and who is answerable to God.
4. Front line Leaders lead as a Husband– As a leader, you bear the greater responsibility and the more significant burden.Here are some specific ways you must lead your wife:
Lead with Love. The leadership of the godly husband is marked by love (Ephesians 5:25).
Your wife, aware as she is of your sin, should never have reason to doubt that you love her, that you love your children, that you are committed to serving your bride in this unique role.
You must be willing to forsake your desires, your comfort, and your rights to express love for your wife.
Your leadership must be distinguished by the kind of love that was the hallmark of Christ’s love for his church.
That same love, that same desire for God’s glory, flows from Christ to the husband and into the family.
Lead with Gentleness. The godly husband leads his wife with humility and gentleness. You need to be aware of your sin and your failings.
You need to lead your wife gently, aware of her struggles and weaknesses.
Embrace the Word of God which says, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (I Peter 3:7).
Lead with Dignity. The godly husband does not put down or belittle his wife.
You must not lead her through ridicule or sarcasm or anger or being condescending. Lead your wife with special delight and dignity, leading her differently than you would lead a child or an employee.
Lead her with an awareness that you are a servant first, a leader second. Do nothing to promote yourself up with arrogance but everything to show your wife that you esteem her higher than yourself.
Lead with Conviction. This is a particular challenge today, of course, at a time when culture has conditioned us to think that men have no business being leaders over their wives.
But the godly husband listens to Scripture above the world and leads his wife, conviction that God calls him to do just this.
Lead your wife with humble confidence, even when you are called upon to make difficult or unpopular decisions.
Lead with the conviction that God is willing and able to bless you for your obedience.
Point to ponder
Yes, indeed, front line leaders as husbands lead with love, gentleness, dignity, and conviction. Lead your family to the glory and honor of God!
Special thanks!
Pastor James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of April 2020, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Cynthia Waiters-Artis, Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. David Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Darlene Simmons, Ms. Mable Bazemore, Ms. Evelyn Rosado, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Theresa Lewis, Ms. Ashley Baker, Ms. Rebecca Hogue, Ms. Rita McGuffin, Ms. Yvonne Bazemore, Mrs. Lola Moore, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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