Who is this? Is he John the Baptist or any of the prophets from of old? What manner of man is Jesus? Herod was eager to see Jesus and with his heart troubled, the questioning already anticipate his encounter with Jesus during the Lord’s passion. However, his encounter was not for interior conversion but barely mere human investigation. The accomplishment of any leader in public positions is linked to personal encounters he has with God. A leader who cannot find time to listen to God cannot represent God adequately in the public. You cannot speak for God if you do not welcome Him into your heart. And “the ultimate test of your greatness is how you treat every human being”-John Paul II.
Carrying the calling of God upon your life does not automatically qualify you to speak for Him. You have to receive from God before you begin to represent Him *(Jer. 14:14-15; 23:21)*. We receive from God, timely, and sufficiently when we have intimate encounters with Him. (Daniel 11:32). Moses had a special encounter with God before he was eligible to do exploits in leading God’s people out of the land of Egypt. His experience of burning bush was what God used to draw Moses’ attention to Himself *(Exod. 3:1-7)*. You cannot do well in the service of God if you are fully aware of who you are. “A leader who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way” -John Maxwell.
It suggests that a leader cannot lead beyond the private encounter he has with God. No matter the level of your leadership, you cannot face leadership challenges without being equipped in isolation. The world tells us to seek success, power, and money; God tells us to seek humility, service, and love-Pope Francis.
Every leader needs private encounters to get extra-ordinary power to lead. Always go to your privacy to have an encounter with God in prayer before you take any major decision in your life. Where are you leading? Home, an organization, community, nation, or church? Keep your hope in God, wait for God, receive from Him before releasing unto His people. He is their Owner who wants you to REPRESENT Him. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader”-John Quincy Adams
God made Haggai recognized the failure of the people though they have received from the land it is limited. It is only a sheer piecemeal. You can build your society, our nation, and our Church only when you go up to God in prayer.
Without God, there is no future for land and the nation. The future starts today, not tomorrow, -John Paul II.
Padre Pio urges us that “if you should fail, be humble, make a resolution to be submissive to God’s will and get up, and carry on”. That is generally required for us all.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus give us special grace to maintain daily privacy with You for fresh encounters.
Help us Lord to always seek Your face before I take any major decision in my life. Lord, help our Church leaders of different cadres to have private encounters with You before they take their major steps in their administration, and may God protect us from the Herods of our time and all forms of abuses. Amen.
Fr . Osho OSJ
