Leadership and Followership

Matthew 16:1-4, “The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.”

Have you ever tested God’s faithfulness to God’s Word? In this opening of chapter sixteen we see the Pharisees and Sadducees calling upon Jesus to give them a ‘sign.’ Their only purpose was to discredit Him. They wanted their authority back for they understood that people were beginning to listen to what Jesus said and that He had real credibility. The Pharisees and Sadducees were beginning to realize that when people listened to their words they had lost their authority with the people. What they didn’t grasp was that their words were empty because they did not follow what they spoke. The rules were for everyone else.

Prayer: Father thank You for this day and for the salvation Your grace and love has given us through Jesus Christ. Help us to realize that leadership comes from followership. We must be willing to follow before we can stand up to lead. Bless us with followership through Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN.