Leadership 101

In our lives, there are times we look at things we don't understand and make assumptions. We typically choose to err on the side of things we know. If we choose to go down the path we have always traveled, it is safe, stable, secure. If we witness something going on that we don't understand, our first reaction is to hunker down. Pull up the armor and get into the bunker. Protect those around us and cast shadows around the intruder. Even when we send out scouts to check it out, and they come back with amazing stories of the "enemy", then we determine the scout must have been brainwashed and is therefore no longer a reliable source. We burn the bridges and set up the rear guard. No, we will not let the intruder in here.

And yet, we look around and some more of our number are starting to peak over the wall and see the sun rising and the "enemy" actually enjoying themselves. Maybe they are not so bad after all. Some decide to crawl over the wall and they are labeled as traitors and our mentality begins to evade all logical reasoning. We have to make excuses or present evidence as to why the enemy is the enemy. Before long, we look around at our miserable selves and finally decide... It really was Father just calling us home.

I am amazed at the story in Acts 11. Stephen has been stoned, people of "The Way" had been scattered all around the known part of the world. Some landed in Antioch. Eventually, they began talking to the Greeks. Wait a minute - why would they do that? They are not Jews. But, instead of the bunker mentality, the leaders in Jerusalem sent one named Barnabas to see what was going on. Instead of returning with news of an enemy, he found that God was with everything that was going on there and threw himself into the middle of it.

We could sure learn a lot from this little story. I hope it impacts you the way it does me.

Acts 11:19:24

Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.

When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.