Leaders come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments and styles. And there are good leaders, mediocre leaders and down-right bad leaders. You can probably think of leaders that you know at work, in business or in society that fit one of those categories. Matthew 2 paints a great contrast between two types of leaders, and shows a family caught in the middle. On one hand, you have "wise men from the East." Little is known about these men. We know the general region they were from, we know they were wealthy, and we know they most likely held some kind of leadership or ruling role in their society. Although we don't know much about their background, we do have pretty good insight into the kind of leaders they were. They knew the Scriptures, they desired to worship the Lord, they were willing to make sacrifices to encounter the Lord, and they weren't threatened that a better or more powerful leader than themselves had emerged. Herod, on the other hand, was just the opposite. He worried about losing power. His world centered on himself rather than on God and others. He would do anything to maintain his authority, no matter how much pain and suffering it caused. In the middle is Joseph, Mary and the young child (no longer a baby), Jesus. They had no political power, wealth or leadership positions. But they had something better--they had God guiding them and helping them navigate the changing political landscape. Today, maybe you relate best to Joseph and his family in that you feel powerless to change the situation around you. I would encourage you to do what they did, and seek God's direction. On the other hand, you may find yourself in a leadership position. In that case, I would encourage you to be like the wise men and not Herod. Don't be self-focussed or feel threatened by others. Rather, try to turn your leadership role into an act of worship by striving to glorify God in your daily dealings.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.
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