The ultimate test of any Christian leader’s willingness to obey God comes when obedience has a high cost to them personally. Read Matthew 26:36-46.

It is just hours before Jesus is arrested by the Jewish religious leaders, put on trial for trumped up charges and His physical death. He is spending these last hours with His disciples and also finding some time to be alone in prayer. They have eaten their final meal together and now in a remote garden, Jesus is alone with God His Father. During these private moments Jesus expressed His personal desire that the horrible agony of physical torture and death be removed from His future. In the ultimate statement of obedience to God Jesus said, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done” (v. 42). Jesus was fully aware of what lay ahead but, professed His conviction that God’s will was best.

A God-honoring leader’s life will demonstrate integrity, not hypocrisy. Read Matthew 23:1-36.

Jesus continued to prove He was the promised Messiah by daily giving additional information to His disciples and the crowds. At the same time, He became more and more at odds with the religious leaders of the day. These leaders had established positions of power and authority and had chosen to enforce only selected portions of the laws God had given through Moses and the prophets. The Pharisees did not match their personal actions to the known scriptures of the day and, in fact, twisted them for their own personal gain.

Every leader needs someone who will give them wise counsel rather than a rebuke even when they need to vent. Read Matthew 11:1-6.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, had been imprisoned by King Herod for publicly holding him accountable for a moral failure. Prison stripped John’s inner circle of support from him and left him emotionally empty. John had a firm grip on his personal identity and mission; he knew he was called to prepare the people for Jesus’ message, but in a moment of weakness questioned Jesus’ identity. He sent his disciples to present his question to Jesus. Instead of reprimanding John for having doubts, Jesus provided the prophet with the information he needed to be strengthened and have his faith renewed.

God requires leaders to use all the skill He has given them while depending on Him for the outcome. Read Zechariah 4:1-9.

Zerubbabel was among the first group of exiled Hebrews to return from Babylonian captivity. God’s first assignment and His number one priority was to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem that Babylon had destroyed some 70 years earlier. He had a difficult assignment. When God tasked Solomon to build the original temple he had nearly unlimited resources, a willing workforce and Israel was at peace with their neighbors. Zerubbabel had strong opposition, a small demoralized workforce and very limited resources. With all these elements against him, Zerubbabel had allowed the construction to grind to a halt. At this low moment, through Zechariah, God reminds Zerubbabel and all the people that they would succeed but not because of their own might and power; He would be their source of victory.

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.