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SCRIPTURE READING
JEREMIAH 23:1-6
COLOSSIANS 1:11-20
LUKE 23:33-43

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “True Leadership” True leadership is shepherding that is people-centred, where the sheep (people) feel safe and cared for by the shepherd. Various categories of shepherds are expected to provide true leadership. Examples are pastors, catechists, presbyters, elders, group leaders, parents, politicians, managers and directors. We shall reflect on the signs of true leadership.
1. True leadership radiates wisdom, justice and righteousness.
2. True leadership is founded on unconditional love (Compassion, forgiveness, Salvation)

Beloved in the Lord, true leadership must radiate wisdom, justice and righteousness. Without wisdom, justice and righteousness, there will be abuse of power, injustice and evil will thrive. Jeremiah 23:1-6 explains God’s judgment on corrupt leaders (“shepherds”) who scattered His people, but also promises a future of hope by stating God will gather the remnant, bring them back to safety, and establish a new, righteous king—the “Righteous Branch”—who will rule justly. Jeremiah 23:5-6 is instructive when God said, “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. (Jeremiah 23:5-6). What does it mean to be wise as a leader? Proverbs 9:10 tells us that  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Again in Book of Job, we are told, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom…,” (Job 28:28) In other words, the wisdom of true leadership is founded on the fear of the Lord. When leaders fear God, they act justly or fairly in the eyes of God and the people. Again, they will follow the commandment of God to remain righteous before Him in their dealings with people. Leaders who possess divine wisdom, justice and righteousness become a good example for the people they shepherd to emulate. Jesus is our perfect example of wisdom, justice and righteousness. He is the blueprint for true leadership, both in the church and society.

God will hold leaders of the nation and the church accountable when they fail to show true leadership by radiating wisdom, justice and righteousness. God says, “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2… “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:1-2). In other words, we shall be held accountable and punished by God for taking unwise and reckless decisions, promoting injustice and condoning evil and looking on unconcerned about the hardship and suffering of the innocent and vulnerable in our churches and societies. As representatives of true leadership, let us “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause,” (Isaiah 1:17).

Secondly, true leadership is founded on unconditional love that manifests in compassion, forgiveness and salvation of people irrespective of their background. To prove that Jesus is our greatest example of true leadership, we told that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Again, Jesus provided true leadership as a shepherd who loves His lost sheep unconditionally when the remorseful and repentant robber said “for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:41-43). Beloved in the Lord, Jesus is our perfect example of true leadership. Every Christian leader must yearn to be like Jesus.  He said, “…I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:15-16) A true leader must love unconditionally by showing compassion and forgiveness in their daily interaction with people. It is unacceptable for a Christian leader to demonstrate hatred, bitterness and vindictiveness in his or her leadership. We must learn to represent Christ by being compassionate and forgive those who offend us, more importantly, as Christian leaders and shepherds. A unique characteristic of Jesus’ leadership is that it ultimately leads to our salvation. This fact was re-echoed by Paul’s epistle to the Colossians, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins…For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:13-14,19-20). In other words, true leadership must radiate Jesus’ unconditional love that has the attributes of compassion, forgiveness and salvation for all who will accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. True leadership represent love and hope to the lost and perishing. Christians, and for that matter, leaders must be ready to preach to all and sundry and welcome people from all walks of life into the church for their ultimate transformation and salvation.

In summary, we have discovered that True leadership radiates wisdom, justice and righteousness. Again, true leadership is founded on unconditional love, which manifests compassion, forgiveness, and salvation to anyone ready to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. May the Holy Spirit empower us to demonstrate true leadership in all our endeavours and wherever we find ourselves as shepherds or leaders. Amen.