By Karen Friday

We can learn to lead well from Jesus. Whether you are leading in your home, your work, your community or your church, these principles from Jesus’ example can inspire you.

Leaders Who Make a Difference

Have you blossomed under someone’s leadership? I’m grateful this is my story.

Growing up, my grandmothers were wonderful role models for me. Both of them possessed endearing qualities of love, care, mercy and grace, and they led by example in my life. 

My youth leaders, a married couple, led me well in spiritual things for two years after I accepted Christ as Lord and Savior at sixteen.

Reba, a woman on staff with CRU at the university I attended, marked my life forever. She discipled, mentored and led me in the ways of Jesus. Her spiritual leadership helped mold me into the woman I am today. 

I’m still imperfect, but these leaders really made a difference in my life and affected me in spiritual ways. This is because they each knew Jesus intimately and wholeheartedly followed Jesus with complete abandon. 

It brought me to this conclusion: Jesus is the greatest example of spiritual leadership. We lead well when we learn how to model his leadership skills. 

Learn to Lead Well From Jesus

Let’s look at the life and ministry of Jesus to glean eight aspects of leading others well.

1. Close relationship with the Father. 

Jesus rebuked those who made spirituality about religious rituals instead of an intimate and personal relationship with God. Only let someone spiritually lead you who has an intimate relationship with the Lord. You lead others well when you, too, have an intimate and personal relationship with God. 

2. Wisdom. 

Jesus sought wisdom and insight from the heavenly Father and God’s Word, he pointed to scripture. To lead well, you gain wisdom from God. Doesn’t it make sense that the Creator of everything, including you, knows best how to manage our lives in every way, especially spiritually? Leading well means praying for wisdom and direction in all things and staying in God’s Word.

3. Kindness. 

The kindness of Jesus is displayed throughout his ministry. Is kindness prevalent in your life through your words and actions? You lead well when you lead with kindness.

4. Humility. 

Jesus came from the splendor and glory of heaven. Yet, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. He hung out with the poor, destitute, social outcasts and sinners, and even made time for children and never thought they were only in the way. You lead well by walking in humility: boasting in God alone, repenting and asking for forgiveness and placing others before yourself. 

5. Gracious. 

Jesus came to dispense grace without conditions. You lead well when you give grace freely and unconditionally without expecting others to earn it.

6. Merciful. 

Oh, how merciful is Jesus Christ. So merciful, he came to wash our sins away with his own blood. You lead well when mercy is written on your heart from the blood of Jesus. Because you have been given mercy, you give it, over and over again. The Bible says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (ESV)

7. Servanthood. 

Christ annoyed the religious leaders and dignitaries of his day when he redefined what makes a great leader as he states here: “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them…But it shall not be so among you…whoever would be great among you must be your servant…For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45 (ESV)

8. Love with truth.

Looking at the life and ministry of Christ, we learn how he never compromised the truth in order to love others, not once. Instead, Jesus loved others with the truth. You lead well when you love people with God’s truth. You never separate love and truth, but keep them working together, because you cannot fully love others without the truth.

What if you let God paint the picture of leadership on your heart and life? What if you asked the heavenly Father to help you model the leadership skills of Jesus?

Wife Step: Keep a copy of this list. Ask the Lord to help you serve others in wisdom, kindness, humility, dispense grace and mercy to those you influence and love people without compromising God’s truth as you stay in close relationship with him.