[175 words]
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66).
With one lesson, Jesus lost many of His followers. At what could be considered one of the lowest points in the ministry of Jesus, He fearlessly risked even His own closest followers with one simple and brave question:
“Do you also want to go away?”
Would you be afraid to ask?
Some people think that losing followers is the worst thing that can happen to a leader. After all, a leader leads others. If you “run off” your followers, you are not a leader. But Jesus taught us that leadership requires the courage to risk that very possibility.
Take the big steps.
Go the places you should go.
Lead with courage and faith.
Challenge people to deepen their level of commitment.
Do not become discouraged if people reject you or your message. Every now and then you have to give people the option: “Do you also want to go away?”
Ask them. And don’t be afraid of the answer.
Jason Sparks
Brown Trail church of Christ
Bedford, TX