Are you a self-disciplined leader? (161-2)
Christian leaders are to model and reflect in their life the same self-discipline God shows to us. Read Jeremiah 18:1-12.
The prophet Jeremiah had consistently delivered the message that, because the people of the nation of Judah had stopped obeying Him, had chased after foreign gods, and decided to run their own life totally ignoring God; the nation of Judah would be overpowered by Babylon and those that were not killed in the attack would be taken into captivity to Babylon. These first 12 verses of chapter 18 give us keen insight into God’s self-discipline.
In spite of the spiritual and moral rebellion of the people of Judah, God offered to avert the disaster of impending judgment if the people would only repent and return to Him. God told the people that instead of destroying them, He would reshape the wet clay of their future as easily as a potter reshapes a clay pot on the potter’s wheel. God wanted to build up and establish them as a great nation that honored His name but he would not do so unless they repented of their evil and disobedience.
This demonstration of self-discipline for the people living in ancient Judah is nothing short of amazing. The Lord is compassionate and slow to anger (Numbers 14:18 and Psalm 103:8). Self-discipline can be defined as the quality that allows a leader to do what needs to be done when they don’t really feel like doing it. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit of God detailed in Galatians 5:22. Composure, presence of mind, coolheadedness, patience, and restraint are all part of self-discipline. Leaders who demonstrate self-control are generally productive, dependable, trustworthy and influential.
Once a leader is able to impose self-control or self-discipline in their leadership it becomes part of everything they do. It spills over into their personal life as well as the workplace. They become diligent to develop habits such as physical fitness, balance between work and home, financial and personal accountability, productivity in the workplace, and restraint with the opposite sex.
How reassuring is it that the ultimate power in the universe demonstrated patience and mercy toward the people of Judah offering to reshape their future if they would only repent and turn back to Him. Leaders desiring to become effective take God’s example in Jeremiah 18 seriously and seek to add self-discipline to their leadership.
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