Thursday, May 10, 2012

Admit it, not cover it

"Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Isaiah 6:9

 This verse(including v10) was quoted in the NT to depict the blindness of the Jews with regards to recognizing the Messiah. It is tragic how the Jews could not understand and perceive Jesus as the Messiah even with His miracles, teachings and exemplary lifestyle. Why were they blind? Was pride the reason?

Although the context is not really talking about leadership, I would like to point out one thing about leadership that is in line with its principle. Q: If you are a leader of your church today, do you find yourself in the same category of what Isaiah had said? Have you spent time praying, listening and discerning what God is saying and showing to you for the church? Have you touch the ground enough to understand the needs of your flock and realized what is wrong(or could be better)? Or are you just "hearing but not understanding; seeing but not perceiving?"

One of the greatest tell-tale signs of such a leader is when the leader do not apologize for errors made. The Jews refused to admit that Jesus is the Messiah even when the signs are clear. Are you a leader who refuse to admit your error even when you are clearly at fault? Hiding, shoving and pushing faults aside will only make you more and more like the Jews who hardened their hearts and could not understand nor perceive. If as a leader, you do not take your faults into account, sooner or later, you will be heading for disaster.

Admit readily your fault and make things right. Do things properly with integrity and impartiality. If you do not do so, very soon disaster will come, and the tragedy will be: you do not even understand or perceive the coming disaster until it is too late.