David and the Call

Leadership: Larry Thomas
Monday, April 25, 2005

Some leaders' calls are gradual. Rather than an immediate and dramatic burning bush episode, the call for them is progressive. Clarification may come only after the journey has begun. The dynamics of David's call fit this description.

Those who experience progressive call dynamics, as David did, often respond similarly to the way he responded. They sense a growing responsibility that propels them personally into leadership arenas. Early victories help build their reputation and confidence. The call begins to solidify and obscurity often begins to give way to recognition, perhaps even notoriety.

David learned that the capacity to rule depended on spiritual power as well as military might. The thought of ending up like Saul terrified him. David's early glimpses into Saul's torment convinced him that as king, he must depend on God and maintain fellowship with him. Therefore, David "decided" not to play loose with God's call but to order his life around it. This decision showed up in his determination and patience, and even when circumstances seemed to militate against the call's fulfillment, David remained undaunted in his belief that he would be king. God had promised it. David had been anointed to that purpose. He trusted God to deliver on His promise.

All of those who have ever experienced the anointing of God to do the work that God called them to do have encountered a profound mystery and reality. The anointing is the god-part of the leadership equation. It accounts for the leader's effectiveness that reaches far beyond what the leader alone brings to the table. The leader's efforts become multiplied and remarkably sufficient to the challenge. The experience of the anointing is truly humbling to the leader who knows that unless God shows up, the crowd goes away hungry.

A case can be made that God never removes his call on a person's life, but he definitely can and often does withdraw His anointing. One of the greatest horrors of a leader not following the will of God is the awareness of the lack of anointing. The leader may go on functioning in the leadership role, but minus spiritual power. The leader's heart cannot rest fully. The only remedy is a return to obedience, a plea for mercy, and a hope that it is not too late, that the window of opportunity to get in on what God is up to has not closed.

Christian leaders certain of their call allow it to become the center of gravity for their life experiences. They order their lives around the call of God on them. They are convinced that life will eventually line up with the reality of the call.

Every age and every organization develop their own list of characteristics that form the selection criteria for their leaders, however God defines the search parameters for those he is looking for. I am convinced that future ministry models will increasingly return to a renewed emphasis on models that value heart integrity and spiritual presence for those who lead spiritual communities.

Remember, to finish well we must run the entire race, accepting the challenges, victories and disappointments of the course he has set before us.