Every leader will face opposition. This opposition might come in the form of ridicule, resistance, rumor or even a physical way. One of the great tests of leadership is how a leader handles opposition. Read Nehemiah 4:1-23.

Nehemiah has mobilized the people living in Jerusalem and the surrounding communities to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem. With a wall in place around the city, Jerusalem would become a defensible city and potentially a regional political and military powerbase. Even though Judah and the surrounding nations were all subject to Persia, the favor of the king went to those cities most strategic to the wealth and defense of Persia. Up until now Jerusalem did not figure into that picture. The people in the surrounding territory were not eager to chance losing the favor of the king or dividing the wealth with Judah and Jerusalem. Read more »

Initiative is defined as the ability to act and make decisions without the leading of other people. Initiative is the first step in a process that, once taken, determines subsequent events. High performing leaders have the ability to take initiative. Read Nehemiah 1:4-2:8.

It had been over three quarters of a century since the first Jewish exiles returned to Judah and Jerusalem. Nehemiah lived in Babylon and served the Persian King Artaxerxes directly as his cupbearer and personal attendant. He had never visited Judah but being from a Jewish heritage sought reports from groups that traveled to Judah and then returned to Babylon. His brother was part of one of those groups and brought a very discouraging report concerning the capitol city of Jerusalem. The city walls remained in ruin even though some of the Jews had returned 78 years ago, the city could not protect itself, and the people were living in disgrace. Nehemiah couldn’t imagine doing nothing when he heard the walls of Jerusalem had not been repaired. Nehemiah demonstrated that when a leader with initiative knows something in his heart (or gut) they are prompted to act. Read more »

Christian leaders understand the one true source of their courage. Read Ezra 7:27-28.

Ezra received a letter from King Artaxerxes of Persia allowing him to return to Jerusalem to bring religious revival to the Jews living there. It had been 58 years since the temple in Jerusalem had been completed and worship of the one true God restored to Judea. The problem was that over time the people had compromised their worship and had mixed the religions of the people living around them in the land with their worship of God. Ezra had a major job ahead of him. Read more »

We live in a world where comic books, movies and cartoons about super heroes have glorified courage and risk taking. Unfortunately, the impression left is that only a few “specially qualified” individuals have what it takes to change the world. Leadership, whether in a family structure, the corporate or ministry world, the military, or in politics, requires courage and risk-taking. Leaders don’t have to be super heroes to demonstrate the courage to take risks if they understand who empowers leadership. Read Ezra 3:1-13.

In 538 BC, the Persian King Cyrus decreed that the exiled Jews could return to their homeland and rebuild the temple. Under the leadership of Jeshua, a priest, and Zerubbabel, from the lineage of David, approximately 50,000 of the one million exiled Jews responded to Cyrus’ offer. Those who did risked all they had to leave a relatively comfortable life in Babylon to endure a difficult journey and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple in a very hostile environment.

Leadership, by its very nature, inspires people to move in directions they would not otherwise have been willing to go. From time to time, good leaders inspire their team to be part of excursions into unexplored territory. This kind of risk taking will draw on a leader’s courage and can challenge their team to accomplish far beyond what they believed was possible.

The same source of courage that empowered Jeshua, Zerubbabel and the team they led from Babylon to Jerusalem in 538 BC is available today for any leader who is willing to look to the source of all power. When faced with a risky decision, the godly leader will look to God in prayer and to God’s revealed Word, the Bible, for the perspective and courage to make the right choice.

What situations are you facing that require courageous leadership and involve taking a risk? It serves a Christian leader well to remember God’s words found in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Effective leaders see a better future for their organization and act upon that vision. They demonstrate courage based on conviction and make the hard decisions needed to bring about change. Read 2 Chronicles 34.

“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the law of Moses” (2 Kings 23:25). Josiah “walked in the ways of his father David, not turning to the right or to the left” (2 Chronicles 34:2). Now that is a legacy every Christian leader would love to have. Read more »