He is the one who gave these gifts to the church; the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their reponsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
Everywhere I’ve served I’ve prayed for God to send me leaders to build his church. For fourteen years, at least once every month or so I’d meet someone who was visiting Skyline Church (my former pastorate) for the the first time. We’d introduce ourselves. Then God would speak to me and say, John, there’s one. That was the most humbling thing in life because I didn’t on thing to bring that person in.
After I resigned, I was with about seventy-five church leaders one night for a farewell dinner. I got up and said, “All my life I’ve prayed for leaders. Let me tell how God answered those prayers with you.”
Then I went around the room, telling each one about the time we met, when God revealed, “There’s one.” By the time I was done, we were all bawling.
Someone said,”How could you remember meeting everyone in a church this size?”
I replied, “I don’t remember meeting every person. I remember meeting you because you were one of those people I prayed God would lead into my life.”
John Maxwell
ReflectionWho are the leaders God has led into my life? How am I supposed to nurture them?
PrayerLord, give me eyes to see all the gifts you bring into my life, including the gift of men and women whom you’ve called me to develop as leaders.
“One of the marks of true greatness is the ability to develop greatness in others.”
—J. C. Macaulay (1889-1977), writer and theologian
Leadership DevotionsCopyright Tyndale House Publishers.Used by permission.
