“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)
No one alive today or ever born understands fully what this verse means, some would conjecture that it speaks of Christ, but He is no little child and should never be seen as such by us. Who the little child is referencing, or where that child is leading who to is not the subject matter of this short letter to you today, it is how well we follow and whom we follow.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
On each of our individual paths we stumble, not because we lack the desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, not only because of the temptations we succumb to along the way, but because we doubt His leadership. We are not sure that we can fully trust Him.
This is sad but true. We do not lose faith in our Savior but sometimes question the direction that He is leading us in, and for many various reasons.
Faith is trust, but doubt is a part of our old nature that in many cases has less to do with a lack of faith, in believing that He is trustworthy, but instead resides in fear, fear of possible repercussions to ourselves or something detrimental to our flesh. The fear though my friends should be in what that lack of trust, that lack of faith honestly represents, a lack of understanding that all the Lord brings into our lives is done out of His love for us.
In the realm of man, it is not necessary for those you lead, if you have been placed in a position of authority, to love you, but to some degree they must trust you, they must believe that you know what you are talking about, that you have done more than just read the manual, you have life experience in the subject matter you are attempting to lead them into.
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1st Cor. 13:11)
I have heard words of wisdom from little children, but I have never once thought that I should follow that small child in hopes of gaining more wisdom.
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14)
I do not believe that any man of God called by God for His glory ever desired to be placed in the role of a leader, his thoughts are on how to glorify the Almighty. He must first be an intent listener, he must not study to show himself approved with the desire to be placed in that role of leading a flock, but solely so that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be lifted up.
If that blessing of wisdom and Spiritual discernment spills over to others as he does so, so be it, but he knows that is not of him, the glory goes to God.
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:22)
If others are caught in the tug of his wake as this man listens to and follows the Lord Jesus Christ, intently listening to the Holy Spirit, then, whether he likes it or not, he has become a leader of men, and everything inside of him will cry out to them, “Stop following me, follow Christ!”
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” (James 3:1)
Very few young men are called to the pastorate by the Holy Spirit, instead it is by the leading of their deceitful heart, not intentionally deceitful towards the Lord, but by a lack of Spiritual discernment. They are led by their emotions. There are many churches my friends where the people in the pews are not following a man of God, but a little child.
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jer. 33:3)
If you do not seek anything but the glory of God in your life, He may possibly place you in a position of leadership, make very sure those following you are not following you, but Christ.
