The Servant-Leader Professor: How to Recognize One...

Over the years I have had and observed many professors and the most outstanding reflected the character of Christ in real and visible ways in and out of the classroom. One of these observations was the “professor as a servant leader.”  Although much more could and should be said, here are a few summary statements:

1. The servant-leader professor sees the student is a gift from God to whom God calls professors to come alongside and to join in what God is doing in their lives in an area of ministry for God’s glory.
2. The servant-leader professor’s task is not to impress the student with how much knowledge the professor has, but aid in the development hunger to grow and learn and to model how the character of Christ is lived out in everyday life in and out of the classroom.
3.  The servant-leader professor understands that the student does not exist to make the professor look good, but rather to seek to develop the student to his or her full potential.
4.  The servant-leader professor understands that his or her worth as a professor is not so dependent in how well the student’s performance makes the professor look, but in how well the student reflects the character of Christ.
5.  The servant-leader professor understands that the true worth of the student and professor is rooted in what God through Christ has done in their lives.
6.  The servant-leader professor understands that respect is earned, not demanded and is mutually given.
7. The servant-leader professor does not lead in such a way that the students fear the professor,  but follow out of love and mutual respect.


Lord, work in my life to become a servant-leader professor.

I was obedient, and then things got worse...

Following God’s leadership is not a vaccine from problems or difficulties.  We can be sincerely following what we believe is God’s will and design, and to our surprise and disappointment [even confusion about who God is and His plan for us], the situation can become worst. Over the years I have known several men and women in full-time ministry who have been wrongly accused by others in attempts to discredit the direction they sensed God leading them, and some by other ministers whose colleague was attempting to get rid of them in order to take their place!

The devastation, hurt, and deep offense wasn’t limited to the husband and wife, unfortunately, the children suffered under the trauma as well. Yes, our obedience can mean that those we love might suffer for our following the leadership of the Spirit.  A crisis point in our faith can occur if we are not careful. Fortunately, God’s Word gives us insight when we find ourselves in these difficult situations.

Last week I was reading in Exodus 6 and came across the account of Moses and Aaron confronting Pharaoh. I had made some notes on the side of the margin and spent some time meditating on what God was telling me through His Word.  Here is a summary of those thoughts:

Context:
In the book of the Exodus, Moses obeys God’s command and goes to tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go, resulting in having to make bricks without straw provided. The people blame Moses and Moses goes back to God.

The people of Israel were already suffering under the hands of the Egyptians, and through being obedient things only got worse. What can we learn from this? What does God do?

6:1.  Now you will see...    Sometimes the situation will get worse before God chooses to act.
6:3.  I am the LORD...      God reminds Moses of WHO He is,  His nature, His character
6:5.  I have heard ... I have remembered...  God reminded Moses that He knew their need and that He is faithful to His promise
6:6  God tells Moses to remind the Israelites Who He is and of His promise.
6:9.  The people did not listen “because of their discouragement”
6:12  Moses returns to God thinking Pharaoh nor the Israelites will listen
7:1-5. God repeats Who He is and that “I will multiply my signs” “I will reach into Egypt and bring    out my people”
7:6 Moses and Aaron obey.

Points to ponder...
1. Obedience to God can bring difficulties, it is not a vaccine against trouble.
2. Sometimes the situation must get worse before God chooses to act.
3. In the midst of the difficulty, God will take us back to Who He is.
4. God reminds us that He knows the situation, the need, and His promise to be with us.
5. Discouragement can make us close our ears to when God speaks.
6. If we are not careful, the discouragement of others becomes ours and we forget Who God is.
7. God reminds us again who He is and that it is He working, it is not left up to us.
8. Our response must be obedience, regardless of the comments of others, trusting God is in control.