Righteous people can make a huge difference in this world. Find a way to give the world around you a godly example to follow.
SHAUNA: Hi, I’m Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope with a lesson from Joni about leadership.
JONI: One time I was at the airport heading for the parking garage, and I was waiting with a group of people for the pedestrian signal to turn green on a street corner. While it was still red, one man decided to stride across the street when he saw no traffic coming and within seconds, two people followed him, and then three, and then the whole group. My friend and I remained on the street corner, feeling almost silly standing there by ourselves. It was the classic example of: “Hey, but everybody's doing it!” So, there we stood alone, happy to wait until the light turned green.
You know, people love to play “Follow the Leader,” even if it means following the wrong leader and doing the wrong thing. The world is waiting for leaders to break the law, trash the standard, and throw caution to the wind – that way, the world's conscience is eased, and people can feel their wrong actions are justified. But in Hebrews 11, the Lord has given us a roll call of great godly leaders from whom we can draw courage and resolve. Let me read this passage for you, it says, “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell you about Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, and administered justice, and gained what was promised; they shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. The world was not worthy of them.”
Wow is that last statement true. The world was not worthy of David or Gideon, or the Apostle Paul or Peter, but God tells us to look to them as life examples of valor and courage. They are life examples of the nerve it takes to be different, to go against the tide of what’s popular, what’s trendy or acceptable; what everyone must do in order to fit in like the rest. No, Hebrews 11 shows us how righteous people can make a huge difference in this world.
So today friend, find a way to give the world around you a godly example to follow. This world is so divided there is such a need for common courtesy and civil discourse. I mean, everybody else may be haranguing, may be angry, may be “doing it”, others may follow fallen leaders, but not you. Look for ways you can swim against the angry tide in this nation. Go against the grain. Give people something [or I should say someone] to follow!” Is there a brand-new employee at your place of work? Invite them to lunch with you and a few other co-workers. Is there someone at school that others pick on? Make friends with that person; speak up if others play the bully. Or with others, commend them for a job well done. Or when you’re in a meeting, acknowledge and appreciate others’ ideas before you share your own. Be an advocate for an elderly widow – help her with the banking or paperwork or maybe even house chores. Or learn the disability routines of a disabled child so you can give the mother a break. Oh, friend, there are all kinds of ways to show yourself as a Godly leader; to show responsibility, and to exhibit righteousness.
SHAUNA: And speaking of disabilities, please visit joniandfriends.org/church today where you can learn how to help people with disabilities not only feel welcome in your church, but also become leaders. Finally, look for a way that you can do the same today among the people you know. Break the trend downward; be a Godly leader. And thank you for listening to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope!
© Joni and Friends