Are you facing situations that require risk-taking and courageous leadership? (115-3)

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.”