New Covenant Hope for Leaders Promises a Brighter Future
Learning from the Past
The Old Testament book of 2 Kings is full of accounts where leaders succeed, then, in turn, fail. As these men lived out their lives, it’s almost frustrating to see them make the same mistakes time after time. One leader has a moral failure, causing the people of Israel heartache, and a couple of generations later, the same mistake happens again. This historical perspective highlights why the new covenant hope for leaders is essential today.
As we read through the Biblical accounts, there seems to be this constant mix of good leaders and bad leaders, leaving us wondering, “How does God put up with these people?” Fortunately, we find the answer in a couple of verses in 2 Kings 14:
“The LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.”
2 Kings 14:26-27, ESV
You see, it’s at this point where we remember once again: God’s love for His people and promise of their salvation surpasses all the poor decisions leadership makes! From the beginning, God has issued a covenant with Israel, and He will keep His word.
The New Covenant Hope for Leaders Today
So what does that mean for us today? Through Jesus, we have become people under the new covenant, and we also receive the same grace in times of failure. Just consider the Church in our modern world; we have the same mixed bag of leadership. (Present company included!)
As a leader examining my own heart, I must admit that I’m just a mixed bag of leadership. Depending on the situation, the stress, and the lack of time and resources (or the wealth of time and resources, for that matter), my leadership can succeed or suffer.
We’ve all had those moments where our flesh overtakes our better judgment. Soon after, we fail and then we fall. To varying degrees, based on the failure and the circumstances of the fall, but fall nonetheless.
The Promise of Hope for Leaders
As leaders, we have so many people depending on us. It can be an ominous responsibility to lead. And yet, how great a gift that we have this new covenant that we can lean into? A covenant that surpasses bloodlines and family history, promising a newness of life and mission.
As believers in Christ, we are welcomed into the eternal plan of the Church. As we lead, though it may not always seem like forward motion, God promises that we are moving forward. Because of His covenant with us, through His Son, Jesus Christ, our failures as leaders can and will be redeemed!
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Hebrews 8:10, ESV
This is our great hope as leaders!
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- How have you seen the New Covenant promise hope for leaders in your organization?
- What challenges have you faced as a leader, and how has the New Covenant helped you overcome them?
- How can we better support each other in leadership roles within the church?
