The apostle Paul wrote something in Galatians 1:10, He said, “Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).”

We know Satan firsthand uses rejection to prevent us from going forward with the call of God on our our lives. Have you ever been attacked with rejection? The devil uses this very effective tool to keep us from making progress.

How many of you have gone to the bank to get a loan for your business and were turned down? Wanted more money to expand? Wanted to hire a few more people? How many people were skeptical when you told them you were starting a business, or joining a partnership with someone, or told you all of the reasons why they failed in business and why you would too? It’s very difficult to go on when you are being rejected by someone you love and care about or others who have the power and ability to help but do not buy into your vision. I know what that feels like when you take the leap of faith and do what you believe you have been called to do. I shudder to think what I might have sacrificed had I bowed down to the pressure and the weight of rejection. Everywhere I went for help they told me no, or I didn’t qualify, but thank God I didn’t give up.

Have you ever been in a situation when the devil leveled an attack against you at the same time when God was trying to promote you into the next level of what he has for your life?

Anyone who is going to do the will of God must have more fear of God than of man. We all want acceptance and for others to support our dreams. It takes courage to live your dreams. And you have to be willing to lose everything to do it. What does that mean? The trials and storms of life will come. They must. Do you stay and fight for the dream and the desire that you believe God has placed on the inside of you, or do you turn in defeat because it’s just too hard?

Anyone who is going to do God’s will must remember what Jesus told His disciples: “A servant is not greater than his master…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecut you” (John 15:20). He was saying, “If they reject you, in effect they are rejecting Me.” I believe the Lord takes it personally when people reject you because you are trying to do the right thing. He knows how you feel about being rejected, because He felt the same thing. He is your Vindicator; your reward comes from Him, and you must reverentially fear and honor Him more than anything or anyone else.

As you have made the decision, for God I live, and for God I die, know that God is equally commited to the promise as well. Romans 8:31,32 “What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] [Ps. 118:6]

32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?

God approved of you before anybody else ever got a chance to disapprove. Do not spend your time playing it safe in the illusion of a down economy (because millionaries are being made everyday, banks are still giving corporate execs million dollar bonuses) don’t buy into the hype! Safety is very comfortable, but it may keep you from God’s perfect plan for your life.  If we want to continue to succeed in this environment, our focus must be customer focus coupled with outstanding customer service. Not because it will keep your customer and repeat business, but if you never see them again, the honor and privilege is in being in a position to serve.

Trust His Word and keep your heart willing and ready to obey. Be willing to try new things, especially if it is something you have never done before. You will find throughout your life that God regularly calls us out of our comfort zones and into new places of faith and growth in Him.

On the way to your destination, enjoy the journey.

Linda Dillard

Founder/CEO & Relationship Strategist for Power In Progress, LLC & Creator of the “CEO Method”

Jesus on Leadership

Calvin Miller (Foreword). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1998, Paperback, 272 pages, $7.37

Spiritual Leadership

J.Oswald Sanders. Moody Publishers 2007, Paperback, 208 pages, $7.82

Christianity needs powerful voices in today’s world, voices from strong leaders guided by God and devoted to Christ. Spiritual Leadership will encourage you to place your talents and powers at His disposal so you can become a leader used for His glory.

Lead Like Jesus

Ken Blanchard. Thomas Nelson 2008, Paperback, 272 pages, $7.89

With simple yet profound principles from the life of Jesus and dozens of stories and leadership examples from his life experiences, veteran author, speaker and leadership expert Ken Blanchard guides readers through the process of discovering how to lead like Jesus. He describes it as the process of aligning two internal domains-the heart and the head-and two external domains-the hands and the habits. These four dimensions of leadership form the outline for this very practical and transformational book.

Be a Leader for God’s Sake

Bruce E. Winston. School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship 2002, Paperback, 192 pages, $17.99

Bruce E. Winston, Ph.D., School of Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship (2002)
This is a rediscovery of Jesus’ principles of leadership through a study of the Sermon on the Mount showing the values-base of leadership as presented in the Beatitudes and the application to today’s organizations. Winston also develops the biblical base for leadership as he takes the reader through the Fruit of the Spirit as presented in Galatians 5. Finally he presents a working profile of a leader as he analyzes the Romans 12 motivational/spiritual gifts.

Servant Leader

Ken Blanchard. Thomas Nelson 2003, Hardcover, 128 pages, $5.23

Best-selling author of The One-Minute Manager, Ken Blanchard, along with Phil Hodges, reveals the meaning of servant leadership modeled after Jesus Christ. Based on Blanchard’s and Hodges’ Faith Walk seminars, business leaders come to realize that teams are more powerful than the sum of the individuals and to recognize their people as appreciating assets.

Servant Leader summarizes the Four Dimensions of Leadership:
# the head (leadership assumptions and methods)
# the hands (application and leadership behavior)
# the heart (edging God out)
# the habits (solitude, prayer, study of scripture, unconditional love, etc.)

The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus

Charles C Manz PH.D.. Berrett-Koehler Publishers 2005, Paperback, 190 pages, $6.54

The idea that a happy workforce is an effective one isn’t new. However, organizational consultant Manz (Business Without Bosses, Wiley, 1993) brings a fresh approach to the concept, showing how the deeper vision of the gospels can teach business leaders to emphasize commitment over a bottom-line agenda by recognizing the value and contribution of every individual. Applying lessons from Jesus’ parables to the corporation, Manz illustrates the effectiveness of “mustard-seed power”: that truthfulness, humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love are the farthest-reaching approaches a leader can use to inspire others to contribute their best work efforts. Written for a broad audience, this is suitable for both public and corporate libraries.

Leadership Lessons of Jesus

Bob Briner. B&H Books 2008, Hardcover, 240 pages, $8.89

The business world is rife today with books about leadership styles (e.g., Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People). In their book, Briner and Pritchard hold up the example of Jesus as a leader worth emulating by modern leaders. The book is composed of 51 short reflections on verses of the Gospel of Mark that demonstrate the principles of Jesus’s style of leadership. Each chapter opens with a long passage from Mark and then focuses on one key verse from that longer passage. The remainder of each chapter is a mini-devotion on the particular leadership quality illustrated by each passage. For example, Briner and Pritchard narrate the story of Billy Graham and the temptations he has faced as a great modern leader as an illustration of Mark’s story of the temptation of Jesus by Satan. Some of the other principles of leadership that emerge from this book include the ability to delegate, the practice of strategic withdrawal and the practice of loyalty and honesty. Because of its choppy style and its vignette-like structure, the book ultimately lacks any coherent vision of leadership style.

Notice that we are to require God “as a vital necessity.” In other words, the wonderful life Jesus died for us to have depends on our relationship with God. Just as we need food, water, and the air we breathe. How many of you realize that when you spend time with God, everyone knows. You handle conflict better, you are easier to get along with, you are less likely to make emotional decisions, your patience increases, wisdom is manifested through you, and even your creative abilities are in a heightened state of awareness because you are more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

If you want to create an environment that is enjoyable to work in, if you want more productivity from self and others, if we want to capitalize on innovation by creating a cooperative spirit filled with collaboration in the workplace, then search for God with all your heart and be the example that you want your employees to emulate.

As with any friend, the more time you spend with God, the more you become like Him. Be the example because everyone will know it. Make it a priority. Your life depends on it because He is your vital necessity.

Suggested Reading:

Lead by Example

John Baldoni. AMACOM 2008, Hardcover, 240 pages, $9.97

Leading with Kindness

William F. Baker. AMACOM 2008, Hardcover, 256 pages, $3.98

Let me illustrate this. In Acts 17:21-31 the Apostle Paul in his journeys visits with some folks in Athens on Mar’s Hill (KJV). Paul notices that the people in Athens are very religious and seeking something to believe in. They had on display many items that they worship (or “devotions” as it is referred to in the KJV). And just to cover all bases, they had a devotion to the UNKNOWN GOD. Paul seized this opportunity to share the gospel in verses 22 and 23 (KJV):

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Take note of how Paul used diplomacy to be a witness. Other translations of the Bible use the word “religious” instead of “superstitious.” Paul gave these people respect and in doing so he was able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

Being a diplomatic witness does not mean you do the same things others do when they are partaking in illegal, unhealthy, or immoral behavior. It means that you are tactful or use strategy that is considerate of others. The Old Testament is full of stories of those like Joseph who did their best to be tactful with the rulers that were placed over them even though they would not abandon their faith.

Being a diplomatic Christian goes a lot farther than being a rude Christian. Think about it.