Leaders: Follow the Lord

The title for this post is fairly self explanatory. In reading through 2 Chronicles 9-12 today I was once again reminded of how much the heart of the leader will be reflected in the heart of the people. The example in this passage is with King Rehoboam of Judah. In 12:1 we see that when Rehoboam abandoned the Lord, his people did as well. I know this is something I've seen many times throughout reading the Old Testament that the people follow the example of their leader. While I do think this will be true to a point on a modern-day national governmental level, I think the primary place where this can be seen today is in our local churches. My reason for thinking this is that in the Old Testament it is God's people who are the ones influenced by the leaders set before them, not typically the Gentiles (though there are of course some exceptions to that). I've had the privilege of being a part of several churches over the past several years and I have definitely noticed that churches really do seem to take on the personality of their leader(s). If a church has a leader who has great theology but seems to struggle with legalism, for example, his church will probably have the same problem. On the other end, if a pastor primarily emphasizes serving and loving, but his scriptural exegesis is poor and his emphasis on theology is poor, his congregation will more then likely follow suit. This is somewhat of a depressing thought considering we all sinners who fall so far short of the standard that God has set. There is hope though! Leaders who are so enthralled in the gospel and what God has saved them from exude both a hunger for his Word and a desire to live it out, not through any strength of our own, but through His Holy Spirit. I guess the big take home message is this, leaders: you aren't perfect, but seek after our Savior with everything you have and watch how contagious that can be to the people you leading! I've had the honor of seeing that in many people in my life and it just reminds me that I am a great sinner but that my Savior is so much greater! So serve Him with all of your life!