Leaders Make Sacrifices – Part 2 of 2

Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them … Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh. Exodus 7:6-7 Leadership demands constant sacrifice. We now continue our quick look at Moses' life showing how God molded him into an effective leader, willing to make the necessary sacrifice: 3. Moses was hungry for God. What does it take to make someone really hungry for God? It’s different for each of us. Some desire to know God from childhood. A personal tragedy may realign the priorities for others. And some may never turn to God. For Moses, it took four decades in the wilderness. A person can’t be staunchly self-reliant and hungry for God at the same time. 4. Moses was broken by God. God did not force Himself or His will on Moses. God waited for Moses to willingly come to Him. Once Moses turned to God, he could be broken. Brokenness involves two things: removing inappropriate pride and self-reliance and building healthy God reliance. God tamed Moses’ self-reliance and pride in the desert, but to create trust, He had to break the man’s fears. Moses dealt with three different kinds of fear in his encounter with God. First, were fears concerning himself – God responded by assuring Moses of his (Moses’) purpose. Second, he had fears concerning God – God responded by overwhelming Moses with His presence. Third, he had fears concerning others – God responded by demonstrating His power and commitment. Lastly, he had fears concerning his ability – God responded by providing him with an inner circle of supporters (see the previous blog: “Every Leader Needs an Inner Circle”). With his willfulness broken, his fears overcome, and his purpose reaffirmed, Moses finally placed himself in the capable hands of God. Life is filled with trade-offs – but you can trade up only if you have something to sacrifice. Moses had to sacrifice his status and his material possessions to get prepared for his life purpose. And then to fulfill it, again he had to sacrifice. The second time he relinquished the security and safety of obscurity in the desert to return to his boyhood home of Egypt (which he had fled as a wanted criminal – a murderer). If you desire to lead – if you hope to find and fulfill the purpose for which God created you – then you must have something to give. Keep growing and building your personal assets and hold lightly the things God gives you. And remember: you may need to sacrifice them at any time to answer His call on your life. I’d love to talk to you personally. For more on help I can provide and how you can reach me, check out… http://truthatlife.com/ or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com