“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” — Psalm 139:13-14
Low-Key Leaders
No two athletes look exactly alike. Teams excel when coaches learn to maximize the strengths of each individual player for the greater good, as John Wooden did.
As we follow sports and see a blended whole, we are reminded that every person is special in their own way. Children come in many different sizes, shapes and colors. Parents and teachers emphasize the positive characteristics of kids and help them learn to overcome their weaknesses. Since we all trace our ancestry to Adam and Eve, we share a common beginning and we do best when we see the priceless value of every human being. As David reflected on his life, he thanked God for making him. His inspired thoughts apply to every person in every place and of every generation.
The Creator makes all kinds of people. Some people are loud like the prophet Elijah, but others are quiet like Elisha. Both men were called by God to deliver important messages to people. Elijah means “the Lord is my God,” and Elisha means “my God saves.” Elijah is more famous. He never died. Angels carried him straight to Heaven. He also came back to the mountain with Moses and talked with Jesus about his death, burial and resurrection, while Peter, James and John listened.
Elisha wasn’t fiery-tempered like Elijah, but he was still brave and used mightily as one of God’s faithful workers. In some ways, Elisha controlled his emotions better than Elijah, and God did many miracles through the life and ministry of both men. The common thread was God’s power working through a person with faults and limitations.
Our availability is more important than our ability or our personality. Andrew worked in the background, but Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:40-42).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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