W ednesday March 12
The Early Leaders
It is of no small interest and importance that in choosing leaders,
Jesus picked from among the humbler, less-educated class of people.
Christ did not choose the learning or eloquence of the Sanhedrin.
Passing by the self-righteous teachers, the Master Worker chose
humble, unlearned men to proclaim the truths that were to move
the world. These men He purposed to train and educate as the leaders of His church. They in turn were to educate others and send
them out with the gospel message. “That they might have success
in their work they were to be given the power of the Holy Spirit.
Not by human might or human wisdom was the gospel to be proclaimed, but by the power of God.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of
the Apostles, p. 17.
What do the following texts tell us about why Christ chose the ones
He did to lead His church, as opposed to those whom many might
deem as having the qualities needed for leadership? Zeph. 2:3, Matt.
11:29, Jer. 50:31, Isa. 57:15.
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We must be careful, though, to not make wrong assumptions about
why Jesus chose the ones that He did. Jesus was not against the educated or learned class; He Himself displayed, at a young age (Luke
2:46, 47), a great deal of knowledge. It’s just that so often those with
the most education, wealth, or power aren’t ready to humble themselves
in the way that people, especially leaders, need to in order for the Lord
to be able to use them. This is not always the case, of course; the Lord
did use such men (think of Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea; see also
Acts 6:7). It just means that so often these types tend not to be open to
the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Read 1 Corinthians 9:19 and Philippians 2:3. What traits are
expressed here, and why are these traits so crucial, not just for
a leader but for anyone who professes the name of Christ? How
can we learn to possess these traits in our own lives?
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