The Greatest Story of Victory and not just under Friday Night Lights
This story of Values started many years ago on a chilly night when a Star shone brightly in the East where in a manger lay a baby wrapped in swaddling. The long awaited Savior and Messiah had arrived. Not much is really known about the first 30 years of His life for it was the final 3 years by which the Greatest Story would be told and for which we today are the victors because of it. My analogy of using the phrase “Friday Night Lights” is to bring to the forefront that when the clock hits 0:00 and you have not crossed the goal line, that Victory has not been achieved. This would not be the case for the Man called Jesus, the Christ for when the clock struck 0:00 in His Life, that He did indeed cross the goal line and with it He took the sting out of death.
Today is the anniversary of this event that we refer to as Good Friday. And for many of us, we will be at our places of worship under those Friday Night Lights to honor His death and crucifixion and await the glorious 3rd Day that we celebrate as Easter. While my faith and beliefs are strong, I strive always to write here from a Leadership perspective and I will endeavor to do so in this article. I write of a Man who was both a “server” and a “leader”. Jesus was the true and perfect example of what Transformational Leadership is all about.
There are so many of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership that apply but I will speak to several of these laws and how Jesus exemplified both being a Leader and showing Leadership. Law #2 The Law of Influence-Leadership is not Title, Position, Power or Stature. It is Influence, nothing more, nothing less. Clearly this man came into the world and left this world with innocense. He certainly influenced many before but certainly many more after. Law #4 The Law of Navigation. Anyone can steer a ship but it takes a Leader to chart a course. Well 2000+ years later we are still following a course established. Law #10 The Law of Connection-Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. Well 2000+ years later, the number of hearts that have been touched on a daily basis….and the number of hands that have reached out to others during this journey. Law #11 The Law of the Inner Circle– A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him. Who could have guessed that a few “fishers of men” would go on to carry forward the message that would reach the whole world? Law #18 The Law of Sacrifice– The Leader must give up to Go Up. Well there can be no greater love than to give up one’s own life. Jesus gave up His life so we could have ours back. He died like us so we could live like Him. In our own very lives the best leaders have been those who have been the best servers and have humbled themselves and exalted others. The mark of a true leader is that a Leader will pay any price to get the job done.
I will close with that of the Law of Legacy. A Leader’s lasting value is measured by Succession. Anyone can make an organization look good for the moment or be a “flash in the pan”. But legacy leaders take a different approach. They are tomorrow people while keeping today in mind. The lasting legacy of what this Man did for us is clearly measured by how well each succeeding generation has evolved after His leaving.
Jesus:
1. decided ahead of time what He was willing to give up
2. took the initiative to start the process
3. established goals and priorities with each of his disciples
4. knowing his Death was nigh prepared to pass the baton. And pass it He did.
Jesus, invited, led by leading and showing
He invited His disciples to come and see
He asked them to follow Him
He asked them to commit to Him
So, as I get ready to go to my House of Worship and Live the Friday night lights, I ask you to take a few moments to ponder these laws and facts. If you are a believer, than please remember what this day is all about. Know that even though the clock is about to hit 0:00 that the sands of God’s Hour Glass never run out. Remember that Tomorrow Starts Now and that the Future Started Yesterday and we are already Late.
Have a Blessed and Wonderful Easter. Peace to all of You. BB
Powerful testimony to the Laws, Bermuda Bob! Jesus showed us the way!!