Lessons in Leadership

Have you ever been misunderstood? Has someone misjudged your motives? Have you been accused of something that really has no basis in truth? I have and I suspect any leader has had those moments. Let me remind you of an episode you know so well.
It is recorded in John chapter nine. "Some of the Parisees said, "This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath." Others said, "But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?" So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

One author asks this question concerning this passage: If people were confused about Jesus, what makes you think you can get them to understand you? Interesting question.
You remember those Pharisees don't you? Those were the guys that would go out of their way to make sure they stayed within the boundries of the law. It was their way or the highway. They would not tolerate anything less and they were quite proud of themselves when they put someone else down.
But yet, despite their wisdom on the law, they could not come to agreement about whether or not Jesus worked on the sabbath.
I would suggest they did not want to understand.
I will never forget the many times in my life when I have seen an incredible movement, large and small, by the hand of God, yet people complain about the smallest of things or misjudge the moment. Probably the first time I saw this was in a church in Texas. We had to vote on everything and a man wanted to donate a van to us. If we did not want it, he said we could sell it and keep all the proceeds for our student ministry. That seemed simple enough to me. I thought there would be no discussion on this. But I was wrong.
One lady launched into a vicious attack on the man wanting to donate and when she saw things not going her way, she stood up threw some papers in the air and ran out of the building. I was speechless! There were several of our members beginning to tear up. One lady asked, "why does this have to happen to us?"
If you have ever led people for any period of time, something strange has happened and someone has disagreed with you.
It seems too simple but here it is: You will never get 100% so why worry about it. Even Jesus did not get 100%! He brought a man back from the dead and the Bible said even then many chose not to believe.
Be encouraged. Do the right thing. Be concerned only with pleasing God.
Bro. Jim