What shall we do?
Scripture
“Tax collectors also came to him and said “Teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, “collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what shall we do?” And he said to them, Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation." As the people were in expectation, all we questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all saying..
“I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming.”
(Luke 3:12-15)
Thought
It’s not uncommon for a transformational leader to be sought after by people outside of their realm of expertise. Was John a tax collector? No. Was he a soldier? No. Then why were these people asking him for advice, wisdom, and direction? What mastery in the inner workings of the life of a tax collector, or what knowledge of the mechanics of being a soldier did John possess prompting people to wait in expectation for his every word?
If they came for industry specific postulation they weren’t going to find it. If they waited for hypothesis on the future trends of their industry they would have been disappointed.
What he lacked in tax collecting expertise he made up for in a deep inner life connected to God. What he lacked in soldering he made up for in a way of life so captivated with the person of Jesus that even tax collectors and soldiers recognized this man could impart to them a new way of living.
Perhaps it would be in our best interest as emerging transformational leaders to pause and reflect on John’s way of life. What was his secret to captivating so many people? Was it his marketing plan and conversion rate on crowds for future gatherings? Refreshments and a meet and greet after each gathering? How did such an ordinary man position himself to be so sought after?
It seems one indicator present in the life of John that should be present in the life of every transformational leader is that his life pointed to Christ.
“I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming.”
When the chips were down, he didn’t leverage his influence for his own personal gain. He knew who he was and who he was not.
A transformational leader is not playing the role of a guru. They’re not interested in playing a fictitious character in public and the real version of themselves in privacy. They know who they are and who they are not. Their life points to Christ.
Call to Action
Take a moment and reflect on the person of Jesus and the freedom you have in him. Write down how your life can point to him today.