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We're still in John 1, and this week we get to look at a great aspect of who Jesus is. In response to the question asked by the disciples in verse 38, 'where are you staying?', Jesus says, 'Come and you will see.' This phrase is similar in many ways to the often-quoted phrase of Jesus, 'follow me'. Very often we will ask Jesus a question and we find that the answer comes in following him. So today we are going to look at Jesus, the Leader.

Now there are many different styles of leadership. Jesus practises many of them, but this verse in particular highlights the way he leads by modelling to us how we should act. By following his example we are doing two things...and both of them are good!

We glorify him

By actively submitting to his leadership and following the example Christ sets for us we are effectively declaring by our actions that we acknowledge Jesus as Lord of our lives, saying 'you know better how to live than I do'. The ultimate example Christ laid for us was in the act of humbling himself to become a human, even to the point of death as our substitute (Philippians 2:5-11). This doctrine is the doctrine of Christus exemplar, and should challenge us in the way we live our lives - how often do we humble ourselves and make sacrifices for others who do not love us in an attempt to be reconciled to them? If you are anything like me, the answer will be 'not often enough'.

We gain rewards

Now please hear my words - this is no prosperity message, and certainly not saying that if you live well enough God is guaranteed to make you healthy, wealthy, famous, etc. But the truth is that Jesus simply knows the best way to live our lives, because he created our lives! As a result, if we do live as he modelled, then we will reap the rewards of being used by God to impact the world! While the Bible does not promise earthly riches, it does talk about storing up 'treasure in heaven' - and that will be for the rest of eternity, so is well worth living for!

'But I'm not a leader'

I know that some will be reading this and thinking that exact thought - some are called to be leaders, and some are not! The truth is, however, that we can, and are called to, lead in the way Jesus did, by modelling a better way to live. Our prayer should be that in our words and actions we get the privilege of leading people to Christ, and surely there can be no greater thing we do on this earth than introducing people to the King of Kings, bringing them into a relationship with the living God for all eternity!

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Storms Of Life