Romans 12:8, Matthew 23, Revelation 17:14, Philippians 2:3-8

Matt Summerfield considers a leaders ability to follow, serve and love.



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Because He loves people. God loves you and me.

He is committed to restore our relationship with Him through Jesus and then, as we invite Him to be part of our lives, He promises to be with us, to help us, heal us and transform us, so that we get free from the grot in our lives and experience the wonderful life He wants to give us, both now and for all eternity.

Everything God says and does is motivated by love, because God is love.

Author and church Leader Rick Warren once said, 'The first job of leadership is to love people, leadership without love is manipulation.'

Why? Because you're trying to get people to do things for your good and not their good.

I remember a few years back, I was having a coaching conversation with someone who was coaching me. I was talking about some of the challenges and difficulties that I was having with my team at Urban Saints. She asked me, "Do you love them?" I thought for a moment and then honestly answered, "I love 'some' of them!"

Since that conversation, God has been at work in me to help me love people, even the people who are tough to love. He's been showing me how my focus needs to be on releasing their potential and seeing them thrive.

So what does godly leadership look like? The willingness to follow, serve and love. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.