Jesus Led With Courage

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 17, 2018

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers’”. Matthew 21:12-13

Jesus was not afraid to challenge the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who should have known better. Jesus led by looking at the heart of leaders and calling out those who said they loved God, but whose behavior confirmed that they really loved themselves more than anyone else. Boldly He described their contradictory condition, “In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:28).

On another occasion Jesus senses entrapment, so He exposes the greed of the religious leaders as they ask Him, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked…Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:14-15, 17).

Furthermore, Jesus warned his disciples of the hypocrisy of the scheming, gossiping Pharisees, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs” (Luke 12:1-3).

What leadership lessons can we learn from Jesus regarding His courage to challenge others?

1. Challenge leaders whose behavior does not align with the culture of the organization.
2. Challenge leaders whose questions are motivated by entrapment to discredit your leadership.
3. Challenge leaders who gossip behind the scenes with innuendoes to further their agenda.

Courageous Statements/Questions:

• What is behind your question?
• What is best for the team, not just your personal ambition?
• What was your decision making process?
• Are you too emotionally involved?
• What is your ultimate goal?

Better to challenge bad behavior in the beginning, so the culture of the organization is not compromised.  

“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, AMPC).

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me the courage to confront injustice with the gospel of Christ, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Application

In what relationship or issue do I need to be willing to get messy and help solve the problem?

Related Reading

Psalm 25:15; Hebrews 2:10; Philippians 2:8; Revelation 2:3

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Jesus led by looking at the heart of leaders and calling out those who said they loved God, but their behavior confirmed that they really loved themselves. #WisdomHunters #boldleadership

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