Special Feature
You’ve seen him, Hollywood’s leading man- handsome, rugged, loved by friends, and feared by foes. He’s the all-American hero that boys dream of becoming and girls dream of marrying. Unlike the fictional character in the movies, God’s leading man may or may not be good-looking, tough, charming, or dreaded. And yet, he possesses one key trait: a commitment to personal growth in all aspects of life. Take a minute to reflect on your journey to become an authentic leading man.
The Standard. Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Jesus, the perfect model of leadership, is the exception to Lombardi’s axiom. Still, Jesus established a pattern of personal development every godly male leader must follow. Luke highlights the holistic growth and development of Jesus in Luke 2:52- “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” The Greek word for “grew” is a nautical term meaning “to make headway in spite of blows.” It suggests a certain inevitability of purpose and destiny. This unwavering commitment to His mission is a key aspect of Jesus’s leadership that every man must strive to emulate. In His humanity, Jesus led in suffering, intellectual debates, temptation, and empathy for the oppressed. Notwithstanding His deity (Philippians 2:6-8), Jesus’s leadership stemmed from His physical, mental, spiritual, and social fitness.
The Response. God calls His leaders to grow, love, and lead like Jesus (Philippians 3:14). This call demands faithfulness despite the headwinds of an aging body and mind and involves cultural changes that may threaten your freedom to live and work Biblically. Submit first to the leadership of Jesus, then practice what you’ve learned. Implement a leadership fitness plan to improve the following:
- Mental acuity- fill your mind with God’s Word and wholesome literature
- Physical agility- eat healthy and exercise
- Spiritual integrity- study the Bible, worship, and fellowship with other believers
- Social credibility- love and serve your wife, family, and community
Leadership requires mastery- not perfection- of the basics. Mastery starts with mimicking. When you grow as Jesus grew, you lead as Jesus led. May you one day say, as did the apostle Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
-Dr. Alonza Jones
Teacher, Writer, Speaker
President and Co-founder, Biblical Marriage Institute
Follow @biblicalmarriageinstitute
