¹ Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. ² The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ ³ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained….

¹⁷ “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. ¹⁸ When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’” ¹⁹ Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. ²⁰ The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” ²¹ While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled (Judges 7:1-3; 17-21).

At this point in his leadership journey, Gideon was beginning to share his potential with others. Servant leaders learn from Gideon that they cannot fully reach their own potential until they are helping others reach theirs. God gives potential to leaders so that they will share it with others.

Potential is shared by choosing others to join. Gideon chose others to be on his team. He called them to join his cause and to follow the vision he had just received from God. A few days before, these men were at their homes afraid to do anything. Gideon helps them to see their potential as God helped him to see his own. By choosing them, he communicates that “If God can use me, He can also use you!”

Servant leaders choose others because they see potential warriors. Gideon first accepted all who were willing. But he followed God’s instructions and finally reduced the number to only 300, the right people to be on his team. Servant leaders realize that while numbers are important, size is not the measure of success; obedience is. All leaders select others; servant leaders allow God to guide them in the process of choosing their team. They share their potential by choosing others to join with them.

Potential is shared by calling others to act. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead.” Gideon was not being arrogant or proud, he was simply calling others to act. He shared his vision with them and now calls them to join in the action. His vision becomes a shared vision.

Gideon’s first leadership action was alone; now he shares his potential by inviting others to act. A “mighty warrior” can act alone but a mighty leader calls others to action. Servant leaders share their potential by calling others to act on the shared vision.

Potential is shared by challenging others to grow. Gideon calls the men to an attack in the middle of the night, a difficult assignment. He shares potential with others by giving them challenging assignments that will help them grow and develop confidence in their own abilities. Servant leaders deliberately give assignments to others to help them develop their own potential. And together they win the victory! God called Gideon a “mighty warrior.” Now Gideon calls forth 300 mighty warriors. Servant leaders are not just called to be warriors, but to raise up other warriors. They share their potential with others.

Share your potential with your team, whether that is a handful in your family, a small group that you lead, employees in your business, a church or community group. Choose them, call them to act and challenge them to grow. With God’s help, your team will accomplish the dream together.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• Do I most often act alone or empower others to act? What is the result of my leadership?
• Who is the ‘army’ God is calling me to develop? Do I see the potential in others as God saw potential in me? What hinders me from seeing the potential in others?
• Have I chosen the right people to be on my team? Have I followed God’s guidance in the process or only relied on my own wisdom?
• In what way have I shared my vision with the team that will help us carry it out? Have they accepted it as their vision?
• Is there a specific person whom I should call and challenge to grow? When will I do this?
• Gideon’s first leadership act was at night because of fear. Now he calls his team to a nighttime attack. What is the difference in these two times and what does it show about Gideon’s growth as a leader?

Copyright, Global Disciples, 2018.

¹⁷ Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. ¹⁸ Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” ²² When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” ²³ But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” ²⁴ So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. ²⁵ That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. ²⁶ Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.” ²⁷ So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime (Judges 6:17-18; 22-27).

 Potential is shaped by deepening intimacy. In his interaction with the angel, Gideon realized that he was actually in God’s presence. He was terrified, but the angel spoke words of peace to him. This deepening relationship with God was the foundation of Gideon’s leadership. Gideon worshipped before he worked. He learned to know God as One who is peace.

Servant leaders recognize that leadership begins with intimacy. They acknowledge that their relationship with Jesus is all that distinguishes them from other leaders. This intimacy gives the strength needed for the difficult challenges ahead. Gideon realized that true leadership begins with worship.

Potential is shaped by dealing with fear. Gideon struggled with fear. He was afraid of God’s presence, his family, and the townspeople. Gideon’s leadership is best known for the way he placed a fleece before the Lord and asked twice for confirmation that God would use him as a leader. (Read the story in Judges 6:36-40.)

All leaders have to deal with fear. They may fear failure or that no one will follow. They may fear shame or embarrassment. These fears keep many leaders from developing their potential. Servant leaders learn from Gideon that the best way to deal with fear is to deepen intimacy and to bring their fears to God. Then they learn to have confidence in God’s ability, not their own.

Potential is shaped by deliberate obedience. God gave clear instructions to Gideon about the next step. God chose Gideon to save the people from the Midianites, but the first step to shape his leadership potential was to lead at home. Gideon obeyed and took his first leadership action. He was afraid to do it during the day, but at least he obeyed at night! His leadership would become bolder with time and there would be mistakes along the way. But his potential could only be shaped as he stepped out in obedience.

Leaders develop in the field, not in the classroom. Leadership potential is shaped by action. Servant leaders learn to wait on God’s instructions before acting. Then they move in confident obedience. As they obey God, their potential is shaped and grows over time.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• What happens if I try to lead before deepening my intimacy with God? What steps am I taking in my daily leadership journey to strengthen this intimacy?
• What are the greatest fears I have as a leader? In what way do these fears keep me from fully developing my potential? What can I learn from Gideon about these fears?
• How has my own potential been shaped by actions I have taken as a leader? Are there additional steps of obedience that God is calling me to take now?
• Gideon’s story suggests that shaping potential is a balance of God’s responsibility and the action of the leader. What is God’s part in shaping my potential? What is my part? What happens if I try to do God’s part? What happens if I expect God to do my part?

In the next issue, we’ll examine how Gideon shared his potential with others.

Copyright, Global Disciples, 2018.

The Book of Judges tells the story of a difficult time in Israel’s history. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 17:6).

In this context God raised up a series of leaders to deliver the people from their enemies. When the Midianites oppressed Israel, God called Gideon. Servant leaders can learn many things from Gideon’s example, but we will focus on his potential as a leader. We will examine how Gideon saw his potential, how he shaped it, how he shared it with others, and finally how he sabotaged his potential.

¹¹ The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. ¹² When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” ¹³ “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” ¹⁴ The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” ¹⁵ “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” ¹⁶ The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive” (Judges 6:11-16).

At the beginning of his leadership journey Gideon had potential to be a leader but couldn’t see it. From his story servant leaders learn what is required to see their potential.

Seeing potential requires God’s perspective. God looked at Gideon and saw a “mighty warrior.” Gideon didn’t see himself as a warrior and certainly not a mighty one! He was hiding in a winepress threshing wheat. He looked around and saw the oppression of the enemy. He looked within and saw that he was from a weak clan and was the least in his family. Gideon looked at himself from his own perspective, not God’s. God sees more in Gideon and calls it forth with a new name “mighty warrior.”

Servant leaders do not look at their background or credentials to see their potential. They look for God’s perspective. What does God see when He looks at you? What is His name for you?

Seeing potential requires God’s power. God says to Gideon, “Go in the strength you have…” Gideon doesn’t see himself as a man with strength or power. But God wants him to recognize that He has already placed within Gideon a unique personality, gifts and strengths that were designed to accomplish God’s purposes.

Many leaders, especially young leaders, don’t see their own unique strengths and the power that God provides to them. Servant leaders see God’s power in their own lives and acknowledge it as a gift from Him. In what way has God uniquely empowered you to accomplish His plan for your life?

Seeing potential requires God’s presence. At the beginning the angel says, “The Lord is with you” and at the end, “I will be with you.” But in this passage, Gideon wrestles to accept that God is with him. He sees the enemy but can’t see God’s presence.

Leaders who don’t acknowledge God’s presence in their lives will never see their potential. Servant leaders recognize God’s presence with them and because of Him they are able to see their potential. What can you accomplish since God is with you?

When you think about yourself, what do you see? God sees in you a “mighty warrior.” See the potential God has given you and become the leader God has called you to be.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• In what ways have I seen myself as Gideon did in this story? What factors in my life cause me to see myself as incapable of accomplishing great things for God? If God showed up this afternoon, what words would I hear Him say to me? What name would He give me?
• As I reflect on my own life, what are the unique gifts, personality, and life experiences God has given to me? In what ways do these strengths prepare me for the work to which God has called me?
• Do I regularly acknowledge God’s presence with me in my leadership journey? If so, what difference does it make in how I see my potential? If not, what hinders my awareness of His presence?
• In this story, God used an angel to help Gideon see his potential and call forth the leader he was created to be. Is there someone around me that God wants me to call forth? If so, how and when will I do that?

In the next issue, we’ll look at how Gideon shaped his potential.

Copyright, Global Disciples, 2018.

Encouragement is a tool every effective leader uses well. It meets basic human needs in those who follow and encourages full development of human potential. To ‘en-courage’ is to ‘put courage in’ someone. Contrast this with ‘dis-courage’ or take away courage! Encouraging the heart is simply the act of giving courage, confidence and hope to an individual. Servant leaders, like Paul, recognize the power of encouraging the heart and use it to bless those they serve.

Examine Paul’s example of encouraging the heart.

Paul’s leadership is filled with encouragement. Perhaps he learned it well from his dear friend Barnabas who was known as the ‘son of encouragement’ and who played such a key role in Paul’s first years as a believer. In any case, Paul encouraged people’s hearts and was a good example of his own teaching, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Paul encouraged people’s hearts in several ways. First, he noticed people. Many times in his writing he mentioned specific people by name. We can almost overlook the significance of this until we recognize that Paul was a highly respected leader. To be personally recognized by someone in leadership is a great encouragement. Further, he continually focused on the positive. There were times he needed to correct and rebuke and he did it well, but the general tone of his leadership was overwhelmingly positive. He often reminded people of what they were before they met Christ, how special they were now, and the amazing future God had in store for them. He also encouraged by his words. In his writing Paul uses some form of the word encouragement over 20 times. I can only imagine how often he encouraged others off the written record. He challenges all servant leaders to be encouragers.

Understand the power of encouraging the heart.

I need encouragement, you need encouragement, and everyone around us needs encouragement. If you could package encouragement and sell it, you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand for your product because it meets such a basic human need. But the power of encouragement is free!

Effective leaders recognize that encouragement increases their ability to influence others. The more effectively a leader learns to be an encourager, the more powerfully he/she will be able to influence others. Selfish leaders use encouragement as a means of manipulation to get people to do what the leader wants to achieve his/her goals. But servant leaders see encouragement as a way that they can more effectively influence others to be more like Jesus.

Encouragement empowers others to develop their full potential. Putting courage in others brings out the best in them and inspires them to act. It’s a powerful act of leadership that allows servant leaders to build teams that are energized to reach God’s vision for their group. They serve others by encouragement.

Accept the call to encourage the heart.

Servant leaders recognize that while encouragement is a spiritual gift given specifically to some, all leaders can become effective encouragers. They accept the challenge to grow personally to a level of maturity that allows them to focus on others instead of themselves and on the positive instead of the negative. They have eyes that see the call to encourage. They see the need to encourage and learn to focus on building others up. They see the best in people and have positive eyes. They see the future potential in others, not just present realities. They see the uniqueness of individuals and find ways to encourage that are meaningful to that person.

Servant leaders encourage others because they truly see God’s potential in every other person and want to see them grow and develop. Every servant leader can develop the art of encouragement and provide followers with an injection of courage. Be encouraged and be an encourager!

For further reflection and discussion:

• In what ways does my culture affirm or resist encouragement?
• If leaders focus on encouraging others, how do they receive encouragement?
• Do I generally spend too little time, enough time, or too much time in the area of encouragement?
• How well do I notice people, calling them by name? As I rise in positions of leadership do I remember to recognize, affirm and encourage those in ‘lowly’ positions?
• What needs to change, if anything, in my schedule to practice encouragement?
• Think of a specific person you can encourage. What good things do you see in their lives? Where have you seen them growing or changing? What loving act have you seen them do recently? In what way has their life challenged you to be a better person? Now act…encourage them. Do it with a note, with public affirmation, or in another way that will be meaningful to them.

Servant leaders, like all great leaders, have a passion for excellence. However, their motive to lead with excellence is not simply for personal benefit or to increase financial revenue. Servant leaders lead with excellence because they have a passion to develop their own potential, to see others develop their potential and because of their desire to reflect God’s nature in their leadership. Paul challenges all of us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” (Col. 3:23). His call is a challenge to rise above mediocrity to a wholehearted pursuit of excellence wherever we lead. What is the result when servants lead with excellence?

Leading with excellence reflects the nature of God.

The God we serve is not a lukewarm, half-hearted, casual God. Whatever He does is the best and we are called to visibly express His nature in all we do.

This excellence is expressed in our vocations where we use the gifts and abilities God has given us for His glory. If that is in construction, build the best buildings possible. If it is in education, teach with a passion that produces excellence. If you are a pastor, be excellent! Martin Luther King Jr. expressed it well, “If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, ‘Here lived a great sweeper, who swept his job well.’” As we lead and serve with excellence we reflect God’s very nature.

Leading with excellence inspires the best from followers.

Leaders who model excellence bring forth the best in their followers. Some leaders attempt to dictate good performance from followers and go to great lengths to measure this performance. But healthy leaders live and serve with excellence in a way that inspires others to also do their very best. Think about a leader that inspires you and reflect on what it is about their leadership that helps you to do better. Very likely they have a passion for excellence.

Leading with excellence increases results.

Positive results can be expected when we lead with excellence. Results may be measured in the ‘bottom line’ of financial profit in a business or in the maturity of disciples or community impact for a church. In any case, when we lead and work with excellence positive results normally follow. Given a choice between a mediocre product and an excellent one, which will you purchase? If you want to select a church, will you be attracted to one that doesn’t care how things are done or one where attention is given to excellence? It only makes sense that we are attracted to excellence and doing things God’s way works! For this reason even an unbelieving leader who pursues excellence will see increased results. What distinguishes the servant leader is the motive behind the commitment to excellence. The servant leader pursues excellence as a means to expand the rule of God in his/her sphere of influence.

A commitment to excellence is expressed in an unwavering dedication to growth and development. This will be the topic of our next issue.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Do I consistently model excellence in all I do?
• Does my leadership inspire excellence in others?
• What is my motive for the pursuit of excellence?
• What specific examples of excellence can others see in the organization I lead?
• How can I respond to the call to excellence while avoiding unhealthy perfectionism?