Greetings;
Today I want to remind us that our role as leaders is not a role of position or organization. It is a role of family participation. The body of Christ is the family of God and leadership must excel in being family. Jesus was the Son of God, not merely the appointed King. He is the King, but it being a Son that qualifies Him for that role of responsibility. Being sons and daughter so God is what qualifies us for our roles of responsibility in life, but those roles serve the purpose of being the family of God. God wants all people to receive a revelation of being true family.
Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
We are the family of God and the glue of our relationship with God and with one another is love. Love is the key quality of both membership and leadership in the body of Christ. Where love is, faith will be. Faith works through love and without a revelation of love there can be not true faith. The love of Christ passes our own knowledge therefore we are often faced with impossible situations so that we will know the love of God. As leaders we must set the example of facing impossible situations with a spirit of love that only comes through a revelation of God’s love. God wants us to be filled with His fullness, but the key a revelation of His love that works within us.
Ephesians 3:20, 21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
God wants us to do greater things than Jesus did. He wants us to be the testimony of His family, a family of calling, inheritance, and power in all things. The substance of our family is Christ in us, God Himself! The testimony of Christ is us is one of God’s own love. As leaders we must set the examples of sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and even transitioning grandparents to the generations that follow us. It is all about family!
When we understand that we are family, we willingly embrace necessary sacrifices for the sake of others. Our position becomes that of lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and an endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace in all things. The apostle Paul understood this to be true.
Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Church is not an organization, a structure, a belief system, or a way of ministry. Church is something we are and it is a family for the glory of our Father in heaven. Each of has a grace given to us by God for the sake of others. That grace allows us to be a multifaceted, diverse, and glorious family. There is one body, one spirit, and one hope of our calling. That calling is fulfilled by being sons and daughters of God who are led by one Lord, one Faith, one submersion, one God and Father of us all, one God above us all, one God through us all, and one God in us all. This is the testimony of the family of God in the earth. As leaders let us lead in an example of all of this.
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
