To cast vision, be prepared to cause division
iStock
"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?
No, I tell you, but division."
—Luke 12:51
How could the Prince of Peace say this? The Son of God's purpose was to show the world God's love, wasn't it?
If you back up to verse 49, Jesus says, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!"
This sounds like a passionate leader intent on ushering in the wrath of God—not a gentle shepherd nurturing his flock. Yet we know this man by his compassion. He is characterized as turning the other cheek.
A few minutes later he would begin teaching the masses. The lessons would be hard; he planned to confront them in many ways.
Before he did this, he gathered his 12 disciples around him to prepare them for the difficult truths he was about to unveil. He would soon travel the countryside confronting, healing and attracting the attention of the authorities, who would see him as a threat. His life would be in danger. There would be fire and division—not just love, healing and salvation.
We see Jesus' raw emotion in verses 49-53 of The Message:
"I've come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I've come to change everything, turn everything rightside up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I've come to disrupt and confront!"
For the greater vision and the ultimate good of his people, Jesus was willing to light a blaze and confront all who opposed God. He knew, of course, that it would rip him and his disciples apart. But he looked ahead to the greater good.
Jesus' example gives me courage to not just cast a vision, but to risk for it, and to cast passivity to the wind.
It also beckons me to look into the far future. One day God will review my leadership, my company and how I lived my life.
Let's live and lead now as if our review meeting with God were just around the corner.
Because it is.
Excerpted from Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership, by Tom Harper (DeepWater Books, 2019).
 | Tom Harper is publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and executive chairman of Networld Media Group, a business-to-business publisher and event producer. He has written five books, including Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership (DeepWater Books, 2019) as well as the Christian business fable Through Colored Glasses and its sequel Inner Threat (DeepWater, 2022). Learn More » |
More on Vision & Culture
- Open borders or compassionate order? (by Bob Russell)
- They tried to quiet Charlie Kirk—but the gospel still speaks (by Bob Russell)
- What can Christian leaders learn from a 20-something YouTuber? Quite a lot… (by Zac McGowen)
- Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry (by )
