When the Leader Sets the Example
The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. 2 Chronicles 34:31 NLT
King Josiah took the throne at a very young age in the midst of a nation that had completely turned away from God’s ways. However, upon finding the Book of the Law, he did not ignore its content, but allowed the Word to transform his own heart first. Instead of demanding changes solely from his people, Josiah took the initiative; he stood in his place of authority and modeled repentance and obedience. When a good leader or mentor sets the example, the rest will do the same. A good spiritual leader is distinguished by their actions and convictions:
- Is a person of covenants The successful leader is characterized by being a person of covenants, who constantly seeks to renew and strengthen their relationship with God. They do not take their spiritual promises lightly, but value being aligned with the Lord’s vision.
- Is a person of commitment A leader’s faith goes beyond intentions; it is demonstrated through a firm commitment to follow the Lord in all their daily decisions.
- Puts their heart and strength into what they do Just as King Josiah did, a good leader strives to keep God’s commandments with all their heart and soul. They give their passion, their energies, and their resources to carry out the projects of God’s kingdom.
- Serves God and people with all their soul True leadership is not about seeking personal glory, but is manifested when the leader serves with all their soul both God and the people around them.
- Is influential in their home and with their disciples A leader’s integrity produces a multiplier effect, inspiring their family and disciples to do the same as their leader models with their testimony of obedience to the Word.
True spiritual leadership is not based on demanding perfection from a distance, but on walking with integrity before those who watch us. When we take our place of authority, whether in our family, at work, or in our discipleship group, and decide to surrender our hearts completely to God’s instructions, we create an atmosphere where others also desire to renew their commitment. The greatest impact we can leave on our generations does not come from our orders, but from the visible consistency between what we believe, what we promise, and the way we live passionately for the Lord every day.
The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. 2 Chronicles 34:31 NLT
Think About It:
- In what way are you modeling commitment to God with your example before your family or the people you lead?
- Renew your covenant with the Lord today, intentionally committing to obey His instructions with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Evaluate if there are areas in your life where you have been demanding changes from others without first having taken the first step of obedience yourself.