Lead Like Christ: The Battle-Tested Role of a Christian Man

When a man stands firm in faith, those behind him find shelter in the shadow of his obedience. Your faith matters. Their refuge depends on it. — 1 Peter 5:2

1 Peter 5:2 (NLT)

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.”

Be content with where you are and with the people God has placed around you. Yes—even your own family. Sometimes, it’s difficult. Sometimes, we give half-effort, and that can be dangerous. When we let our guard down or grow complacent, someone watching us can become confused, misled, or even fall away.

As leaders—whether in our homes, churches, or communities—we must take every moment captive. We don’t have the luxury of living life without concern for who we are influencing.

It took me a long time to realize that I was influencing people. Honestly, I wouldn’t have believed it unless they told me directly. But the Lord knew I needed that motivation. He knew I needed that realization to make a change.

I guarantee God has shown you the same. Maybe it came in the form of someone thanking you for your leadership or the example you set. It can come in all kinds of forms—just like the realization of His unending blessings in our lives. We just need to stay open, stay seeking, and strive to live righteously to see and hear what the Lord is saying.

As leaders, we’re expected to know and live God’s will. That way, when others look at our lives, they don’t see us—they see Him. We are called to lead like Christ. It can feel heavy sometimes, but it’s a calling full of purpose. When we live as a righteous example for the next generation—or for a fellow brother or sister in the faith—God promises He will reward us.

And no, this isn’t about making a lazy attempt and quitting the moment things get hard. When we try and fail, we tap into God’s strength, get back up, and try again. There is no "give up" in that kind of trying.

As believers and leaders, our motivation comes from our desire to serve God. We’ve seen His blessings—even if our only reward is knowing we will spend eternity in paradise with Him.

What man owes us—and what we owe to man—has limits. One day we may say, “I’m done. I’ve paid you back.”

But those words can never be said to God. We owe Him everything, and there’s no repaying Him. Thankfully, the God we serve doesn’t require repayment. He only wants our hearts. Our full devotion to Him and His will.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

So, we know why we lead. We know how we’re supposed to live. And we have the motivation. All that’s left is the commitment. Commit to trying your best at every opportunity.

The Lord is our strength. This world needs strong men who are willing to stand up and lead.

Amen.

Matthew 20:26–28 (NLT)

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Inspired by this message?.

Wear the reminder. Our "Your Faith, Their Refuge" shirt was designed to reflect the calling to Lead Like Christ—standing firm in faith so others find shelter in your obedience.

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