Spiritual Leadership May Be Heartbreaking, but It Is Always Hopeful

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Any time a selfish sinner is tasked with leading other selfish sinners in a Godward direction — whether in families, friendships, small groups, churches, or broader movements — there’s going to be trouble.

Take Moses, for example. No Old Covenant leader was as meek as Moses (Numbers 12:3), had more intimate interaction with God (Exodus 33:11), and was more unjustly and harshly criticized by those he led.

Here’s an overview of Moses’ experience as a spiritual leader:

Moses is a reminder that spiritual leadership is hard and sometimes heartbreaking. It is accompanied with adversity and opposition. A prophet may have honor, but not usually among those who know him best (Matthew 13:57).

So if we believe that, who in the world would want to be a Christian leader? Only a servant (Matthew 23:11).

A servant-leader:

Spiritual leadership may be hard and heartbreaking, but it is always hopeful because of where the hope is anchored. Moses’ reward was not the peoples’ admiration, and not even the Promised Land. God was his reward (Hebrews 11:26). And any servant-leader whose reward is God can weather the storms with overcoming faith and joy.

Any leader whose reward is something else will not last.

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