Training our Successors

MercyMe sings, "No matter the bumps, no matter the bruises, no matter the scars, still the truth is the cross has made, the cross has made you flawless! No matter the hurt, or how deep the wound is, no matter the pain, still the truth is the cross has made, the cross has made you flawless!" ("Flawless") These lyrics should remind us that God has made us perfect in His eyes through the blood of His son, Jesus, if we have been saved and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Yes, we will still make mistakes. But God has forgiven all of our sins (past, present, and future) through Christ!

The central verses for tonight are Numbers 27:18-20:

So the Lord said o Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, am an in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him." (NIV)

Maxwell says, "The interaction of Moses and Joshua demonstrates that reproducing leaders is not a quick, simple process. It requires time, emotional investment, and sacrifice." Training our successors is no small undertaking; at least, it shouldn't be. We need to invest our resources in the proper amounts so as to produce the best leaders we can to follow in our footsteps. We should ask God for help and guidance to properly train those who will take our positions of leadership whenever we leave them.

Maxwell presents four areas that we need to cover with our proteges when we train them:

1. Conviction, courage, and obedience from themselves
2. Equipping from their mentor
3. Vision from God
4. Buy-in from the people

As we train our successors, we should remember these areas and guide them as best we can, enabling them to fulfill each area. With God's help, we can succeed in our training endeavors.

The reflection question tonight asks, "What are you providing to a potential leader you are training?" Are you training them fully so that they can take over without your help whenever you graduate, leave the organization, or leave the position for any other reason? Our successors must be properly equipped to take our places so that our organizations can thrive in our absence. With God, this is possible, for all things are possible with Him!

Father, please help us to properly train those who will eventually take our places. Guide us so that we give them the best advice we can, being led by You. Help us to instill in them the necessity to look to You for guidance and to trust in You, the Ultimate Leader. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!

God bless you!