#1219. Biblical leaders have two great aims (24/1/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. This week, following on from Sunday’s message on eldership, we are reflecting on some aspects of Biblical Leadership.

Today, in our final reflection on biblical leadership, we are considering on two crucial aims for godly leadership: Love and mission.

To watch this devotional, please select the link below. (You can also listen to it on Spotify and many other podcast platforms.

https://youtu.be/8XpgUtoyKVg

In today’s world, many so-called “leaders” are celebrated for their achievements in technological innovation, financial success, or amassing a large following. However, these metrics often lead to a misunderstanding of what true leadership entails. By worldly standards, Jesus Himself might not have been recognised as a great leader—His focus, methods and results were vastly different from the world’s definition of effectiveness and success!

For elders (pastors) and anyone serving in a leadership role within the church, two priorities should stand above all others: love and mission. These reflect the essence of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, serving as the foundation for godly and effective leadership.

1. The Great Commandment

All Christians, and all leaders, are to love and are to encourage love in others. Jesus, when questioned on the greatest commandments, replied:

‘Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”’ (Matthew 22:37-40)

Matthew 22:37–40

Loving God and loving people are God’s will for us, are attributes to be seen in church leaders and are attributes and a culture that elders are to seek to develop. Paul, in writing to Timothy, spoke of the goal of leadership:

‘As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.’ (1 Timothy 1:3-5)

1 Timothy 1:3–5

Leaders of churches have a great ‘aim. They are seeking, through teaching and the various activities that are organised, to build a community of love. The church is to love God, love one another and show God’s love to this world.

2. The Great Commission

The second great ambition of elders of churches is to lead the church into obedience to The Great Commission. Jesus, just before His ascension to heaven, gave us our marching orders:

‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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)

Matthew 28:18–20

Pastors of churches are not just to create a loving community, they are to seek to develop awareness and responsiveness to Jesus’ commission. They are to teach, pray and set up strategies that help the church to ‘seek and save the lost’.

Let’s pray together as we finish

“Lord Jesus, help my church leaders, help my church, and help me to respond to your will that we go to all nations and make disciples. Fill us with your compassion and fill us with your Spirit toward this end. Please teach us, and give my church leaders the wisdom and ambition that we love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and that we love one another as is your will. Amen.”