Jesus was truly a great leader. However, few could predict the success that His disciples would eventually achieve. They grew from obscure ‘nobodies’ into prolific leaders in a span of 3.5 years.
What happened in those 3.5 years that shaped them? Can we do it today? Let us contrast the life of Peter with his contemporaries and see how Jesus transformed this simple fisherman into a force that the gates of hell cannot stand against (Matthew 16:18).
Be Self-Aware
In Luke 5, we see that Peter heard Jesus preach and saw the power of God. He immediately fell on his knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). Peter knew his place – it was at the feet of Jesus.
We see the opposite in the life of King Herod, who believed that he had the power to change the plan of God. He thought that he could stop the prophecies from being fulfilled through violence. He felt that he was in control.
Ignorance of God will lead us to think that we are in charge. One of the most important qualities that we can possess is the humility to know who we truly are. This self-awareness is only possible when we are aware of who Jesus truly is. Time spent with Jesus is never wasted.
Dream big!
Jesus chose hard-working, diligent people with small dreams and taught them to dream bigger. When Jesus first met Peter, he was focused on his next catch. Jesus placed a higher calling in front of Peter when He said, “I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
Judas on the other hand did not look beyond his immediate responsibility as the bearer of the purse (John 12:5-7). He forgot his eternal purpose and was willing to risk everything for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15).
If our dreams are not bigger than we are, then they are not big enough. A deep walk with God is the only way we can learn to look at life from His perspective.
Nurture a Growth Mindset
Finally, we see that Peter had a reputation for being impulsive and brash, with Jesus correcting and rebuking him many times. Yet, he did not let those mistakes define who he was. He was willing to learn and grow.
However, when Jesus cleansed the temple and taught from the scriptures, the chief priests and the teachers of the law did not want to change their ways. Instead, they wanted to kill Him. Additionally, They saw Jesus as a competition and were too proud to see the need for growth.
Growth is an indispensable part of a leader’s life. Humility and a desire to become more like Jesus are the bedrock on which the ‘growth mindset’ is built.
In conclusion
A deep relationship with Jesus will help us see who we are and who He is. This will help us reach a realistic estimation of our worth. Furthermore, it will give us a higher purpose and a higher call that we can aspire to reach.
We should strive to be more like Jesus who has shown us what a true leader should look like. We can be more like Him each day if we commit to a deeper walk with Him. If Peter can do it, so can you!
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