What a glorious thing it is to be called and picked by God! Our primary calling from God is to be a child of God, to be a disciple, to make other disciples for the kingdom of God. Our secondary calling, is to then serve in the professions and communities we are in.

The goal of every Catholic is to live out our calling of making other disciples – in whatever position God has placed us in, we should be imitators of God and reflect him through our lives, and via the words we speak and from our actions. We can see ourselves as a Christian leader for God our Father. Christian leadership is not a rank, it is a responsibility. Leadership is not about being in charge, it is about taking care of those around us and to lead other fellow sisters and brothers to the knowledge of God with the purpose to glorify Him in all we do. It is through our friendship that they come to know Christ through us.

A good Christian leader is marked by God’s Grace
Each one of us is saved through grace. Therefore, we are called to lead with grace. (I Peter 5: 5) “For God sets Himself against the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. You need to have the affable virtue – one that is open, approachable and welcoming of everyone.

Humility is a choice. Because God gives his grace no matter what and freely, our appropriate response to grace is humility. Grace is not a license to sin but a power from the Holy Spirit to break free out from the bondage of sin.

A good leader shows unconditional love to all
When we love other genuinely, the person feels it. As Christian disciples and leaders, we act on our love for God our Father and obedience to Him. (I John 3: 11) “For this is the message which you have heard from the first, that we should love one another”. Jesus gave love a priority- love, above all.

Apostle Paul in (Roman 13:10) says love is the fulfillment of the law. God requires leadership to be motivated by love, and it be practiced with love. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. It is a self giving love of helping others, a sacrificial love that put the need of others before oneself.

A good Christian leader is a God-pleaser
Pleasing those we love is rewarding. We must also remember to love those who are difficult to love. But pleasing God is a higher calling and very much fulfilling. (Galatians 1:10) Paul examines his motivation: “Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ.” Paul often referred to himself as a bond-servant. We should please God in all that we do.

A good leader is one who is Faithful and Committed to God
Loyalty simply means to remain committed to those whom God has brought into our lives. As a leader we should exhibit loyalty, faithfulness and commitment to God. (Mathew 25: 21 – “His Lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make rule over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord”.This is an excellent encouragement about our reward in heaven if our purpose is to remain committed by serving God’s children. We will be rewarded greatly according to our faithfulness here on earth. Let us strive to be faithful servants and make other disciples for our father.

The Holy Spirit shows us how to be effective, Godly leaders. With God’s calling comes God’s enabling power to serve and lead Christians in all righteousness. May God help us to be such disciples as we lead His church from the different places we are in.

Good Christian leadership does not rest in a title or a position. But it begins with God’s calling. He gives us a desire to serve Him by using our gifts from the Holy Spirit and charisms so that more will come to get to know Him.

 

By Julianne Danielle Lim