Issue #122, February 5, 2014
The first message preached by Peter was confrontational and courageous and brought him into immediate conflict with the authorities. After his case was heard he left the court and gathered together with other believers and prayed, Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness (Acts 4:29). His prayer reveals the balance of boldness and humility every servant leader needs and calls us to proclaim truth with humility.
Boldness releases a servant leader to proclaim God’s truth.
At risk to his own life, Peter boldly proclaimed truth to a hostile audience. He exposed their sin and called them to repentance and change (see Acts 3). The authorities responded quickly with force and threats and Peter is called to face their charges. These were the men who orchestrated the death of Jesus only a short time earlier. Even in this situation Peter continues to respond with boldness and ultimately refuses to obey their order to stop talking about Jesus! He proclaimed the truth of God in that situation seemingly without regard to what it might cost him.
Servant leaders have courage to speak the truth even in costly situations. They do not wait for everyone to approve since they are not seeking approval from others. They recognize that true leadership is not a popularity contest. Like Peter, they focus on God’s agenda not their own. In the boardroom, pulpit, staff meeting, the teachers’ lounge, or over a meal, servant leaders are not afraid to tackle tough issues. They are not bound by the desire to please people or to be politically correct. Their confrontation often cuts across the status quo and boldly calls people to change. When is the last time you boldly spoke truth?
Humility requires a servant leader to seek God’s power.
It is not difficult to think of Peter as bold, however, humility is not a word we would quickly associate with his leadership! But his prayer reveals that he was no longer relying on his natural leadership abilities for boldness but on God’s strength. Perhaps he recalled his betrayal of Jesus and how he lacked the courage to speak truth in that situation. He had always been quick to speak but at that point realized that his natural leadership abilities were not enough. In this prayer he humbly acknowledges that on his own he did not have the courage needed to keep speaking in the face of the threat of death or imprisonment. He humbly sought and received God’s power.
Those gifted to lead often assume that they have the power to change others. But servant leaders humbly acknowledge their own limitations and lack of ability to bring about a change of heart. Even those naturally gifted in leadership, like Peter, recognize that on their own they cannot produce positive change. They humbly seek God’s power to fill them again and again. When is the last time you asked God for boldness?
When leaders are bold but not humble they do more harm than good. They confront situations with arrogance and a superior attitude, recklessly leading change. When leaders are humble, but not bold, no change takes place. Wrong is not confronted and truth is not revealed. Servant leaders learn from Peter to be bold and humble. This combination leads to the transformation of lives in those we lead. This is not learned from reading a book on leadership or by setting high goals for achievement. It comes by being with Jesus. The authorities could only explain the amazing courage of Peter by recognizing that he had been with Jesus. Servant leaders walk close enough to Jesus to be set free from the need for praise from men. They are close enough to His heart to recognize situations that call for a proclamation of truth. From Him they gain passion to see God’s kingdom established in their home, their business, their church and their world. When that is not happening servant leaders rise up and lead with bold humility.
For further reflection and discussion
- Read Acts 3 and 4 and reflect on Peter’s bold humility. What additional things can you learn from his example? In what way is God asking you to follow Peter’s example?
- In your leadership, do you tend to lead with boldness or humility? What is the result? What steps can you take to bring balance to your leadership in these areas?
- What situations in your home, workplace or church does God want to change? Have you prayed enough about this situation to lead with bold humility? What will bold humility look like in this situation?