I Peter 3:15 … But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have ….
In my last leadership exhortation, we looked at the reality that leaders sometimes “gotta do what they gotta do” and stated the case for that.
The challenge with this new leadership definition framework is that it might lead the leader to think that he needs to go do what HE thinks needs to be done. I would suggest that there are many time where what one thinks he "has gotta” do really is not what he “must do”. In pondering that one, how in the world do we really know? Even though I have participated and led 6 groups through Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God, sub-titled “Knowing and Doing the Will of God”, maintaining the level of spiritual discipline that he teaches through the American daily pace of rapid decision making I find quite challenging, and consciously ponder if it is possible to make every decision within the framework of God's will. How, at the end of the day can you and I sit on the edge of our beds and find contentment with the efforts we put forth during the day, along with the dozens of decisions that were made, some which significantly impact the lives of those we lead?
How do we do that? Today's written message is about the significance of hope.
I sense the Holy Spirit is prompting me to highlight the fact that while we are to “be ready to give the reason for the hope we have” in Christ, we also need to deliver hope to those we lead. In the same way attenders will leave a church if they lose hope for themselves, leaders and employers will lose those they lead if there is no hope for the future. Maintaining hope in those you lead is really easy when things are going good. Try maintaining hope in those you lead when times are tougher. It is really hard … I know.
While it is hard it is not impossible. Many contemporary leaders references to our scripture verse are surrounded by the exhortation to share your faith. Taken out of context, one might think that the hope Peter is referring to is in reference to some amazing transformation of what already happened within the condition of the believer in Asia Minor, and therefore with you and I, the reader. However, the hope that it is referring to is a future hope, based on our future full and final redemption in Christ. Peter was exhorting them to keep that hope in the midst of the suffering they were enduring, not primarily because they had a great testimony of hope from what they previously were delivered from, … whether that be a restored health, a better financial outcome, or otherwise. Peter knew that he had to inspire their faith so that those he was leading could endure the pain and suffering of their circumstances.
This hope is not a guarantee of things you wish for, nor is it just crossing your fingers.
Paul stated in Romans 8:24b-25 "…., but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it".
Friends, providing a hope for things you cannot see can be incredibly hard. Sometimes what you are asking those you lead to hope for will be seemingly out of reach for them, and maybe even for you. However, remember that hope is the expectation of a positive outcome, not the guaranteed end of a particularly hard circumstance.
Some of you may now be thinking “Come on Ron, how am I going to put a positive spin to those I lead in the midst of what they and I are dealing with? I cannot stand before them inspiring them with a future prediction I find hard to believe. I do not want to later be found to be a liar.” Friends, this is where faith meets hope. While hope is the expectation of a positive future outcome, faith is the God given assurance that the outcome will come to pass. It is based not only on the belief of it actually coming to pass, but also strengthen by what God has done in the past in your life.
In summary, in determining what must be done, a good focal point in the midst of your fast paced decision making life would be to do what you must, but do it in a way that will raise or maintain hope in those you lead.
If you doubt that you are able to do this, consider what you must do for your faith to be strengthened. Then do what must be done with yourself and ask the Lord to increase your faith!
