18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
-Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
You are a leader, called to lead. You may be a shepherd for God’s people, pastoring in a local context. You may be an entrepreneur responsible for growing your business and developing a winning team. You may be a CEO or an executive leader, charged with cultivating a healthy work culture and investing in future leaders. You may be a teacher or coach educating and mentoring students. You may be a parent raising your children to love God and love people. Leadership looks unique for everyone, but as Christ-followers we ultimately have all been given the same mission: to go and make disciples.
Whatever job you hold and whatever your leadership role may be, your primary goal is to live sent by Jesus to make disciples. By the way you live, by the way you lead, by the way you talk, and by the way you serve… you have been called to represent Christ as His ambassador and to show people how to experience a deep, rich and life-changing relationship with Jesus.
Which means the work you do matters. When you say ‘yes’ to the great commission and devote yourself to partnering with Jesus to see His kingdom come, the things you put your hand to and the relationships you develop– they all become eternally significant. Your work is ministry. Your life is ministry. Everyday, you are a part of something much bigger than yourself and the opportunities for miracles are endless.
Maybe you have been disgruntled or disillusioned by leadership as of late. Maybe you are tired and questioning the importance of your work. Maybe you’re in a difficult season that is testing and developing your perseverance. Maybe you are discouraged and wondering what to do next.
Today, remember that your leadership that leads people to Jesus and teaches them how to follow Him always matters. Even when you aren’t hearing the thank you or seeing the results you’d like or feeling all that confident in your abilities. There is no greater purpose you could have than to simply devote yourself to making disciples right where you are.
May you be encouraged that you aren’t alone in this great mission. Jesus is with you. On the good days, the bad ones, and even the ones that seem a bit mundane. So don’t quit, and don’t let your vision dwindle. Keep your eyes on Jesus and dream big. Lead fueled by mission and rely on God’s grace and His unfailing presence each and every day.