Effective leaders have the persistence to overcome obstacles. Read Mark 2:1-12.

Jesus’ reputation as a teacher of God’s law and as a man who could heal the sick and perform other miracles had spread among the people. Crowds were getting so large whenever Jesus spoke in public that it became difficult for people to get their sick friends to Jesus for healing. When four men, carrying a man on a stretcher, tried to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus there was no possible way to get him through the crowds and into the house where Jesus was teaching. They did not give up; they climbed to the roof, tore a hole in the roof and lowered him into the room where Jesus was teaching and he was healed.

The effective leader sets priorities and lives by those priorities. Read Mark 1:32-38.

Jesus was having tremendous ministry in the city of Capernaum and news about Him spread quickly throughout the whole region of Galilee. Jesus’ schedule was full from first light to late into the evening, yet Mark tells us that Jesus got up early in the morning and went to a solitary place to pray. Jesus set priorities which included stepping back from His busy schedule to seek the day’s direction from God. Jesus used the solitude of His prayer time to regain perspective and keep His focus on the big picture of His mission on earth.

It is a leader’s commitment to a cause that facilitates success. Read Matthew 16:24-26.

The 12 men Jesus picked as His disciples were with Him constantly. He knew the scope of the mission they were part of and as He mentored them He tried to prepare them for what was ahead. Jesus knew the depth of commitment that would be required of these men if they were to have the spiritual and emotional resources to fulfill the mission they had accepted. He knew the assignment they had accepted would not allow room for selfish behavior. Jesus made it clear that unless they committed everything they would lose everything.

An uncommitted leader is actually a danger to their team. Read Zechariah 10:1-3.

Teams take on the attitude and behavior of their leader. The Lord held the leaders among the returned exiles accountable for their treatment of the people. He says, “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord Almighty will care for His flock…” (v. 3). Through my leadership life I have found a lot of individuals who wanted to be a leader but didn’t want to do the work of or accept the responsibility of a leader. Accepting a leadership role requires committing to leadership responsibility.

Tough times reveal the genuineness of a leader’s commitment. Read Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Habakkuk had expressed frustration and some disillusionment with God’s decision to use the Babylonians to bring judgment on the Jewish people. His commitment to God “seemed” to be hinged to God’s justifying His actions. Something changed between chapter 1 and chapter 3. Habakkuk saw God as his sovereign and Lord and committed everything in his life to serve Him. Habakkuk concludes his book with a ringing declaration of his commitment.