Empowerment

What does empowerment mean to you? Joseph Stalin had his own meaning of empowerment along with Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and Mussolini all had their own meaning of what empowerment meant to them. Sadly they used their meaning of empowerment only to achieve their own evil desires by crushing their own people. It was a far picture of what Jesus had painted for his disciples as one who thought about empowerment.

Jesus picked out 12 ordinary men that had already had chosen their profession in life. Some were fishermen as we gathered and one of them was a tax collector. People whom not everyone wanted to hang out with on a day to day basis. Especially a tax collector. Jesus took them all and empowered them to live a life bigger than themselves. How did he do it? Jesus spent His time investing in them. He knew when he needed to spend time alone and when they needed to spend time alone. He opened up his life so they could see into his heart. He would set an example everywhere they went. He demonstrated how to love, how to wait, how to engage aggressively and softly. When he had ascended to Heaven the disciples were well equipped to the task that was ahead of them.

Just as Jesus had promised that he would send a comforter for them in his place. So that day came when they were all in that room upstairs when the comforter had shown up. It was then that they would step out into the life of empowerment that Jesus had placed on their lives. Each one would step out into the very area that Jesus had focused on them individually. He found their strengths and of course he probably already knew their strengths, but just for kicks and giggles he probably just looked for them anyways.

Jesus set the example of what a good leader is and how to lead. In John we see him strip down and wrap a towel around himself, pick up a pot of water and a basin and wash the feet of those he was teaching. Why? So that they could see that by doing so they would never become prideful of any position that they would hold in life. This would be a lesson that each one would carry with them the rest of their lives. I had heard one of my former pastors say one time that I have never forgotten, "A good leader will always lead in such a way to make his leaders better then himself." Dave Buehring. That is something that I have never sat aside but have kept it close to my heart. Jesus had taught like that. He told his followers that great work they would do than he had done.

This is true empowerment of someone else. I pray as I step out into this calling that God has laid on my life to empower single mothers, widows, and orphans that I also lead in such a way for them to be better than myself. To me this is the only true leadership that there is. Anything less would be considered a dictatorship. I believe if you are not willing to give your all to those you are leading then why would want to lead then?  "It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership." Nelson Mandela May we all look to those who led in such great ways to be examples for those behind us. Trust me when  I say that there are those who are watching, cause they not only want to be led, but they want to learn how to lead too.