this one snapshot, the Gospels demonstrate that Jesus sought out, pursued and enjoyed a dynamic and intimate spiritual relationship with the Father throughout his earthly life. A few verses later, in Mark 1:35, we read that “while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” I don’t believe that this time with the Father was simply a prerequisite for leading or having a greater impact; it was first about intimacy and relationship.
You are I are also created for an intimate spiritual relationship with God. This is the foundation and wellspring of the Christian life. Os Guinness writes, “Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him and for him. First and foremost we are called to Someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, politics or teaching) or to somewhere (such as the inner city or Outer Mongolia).”2 Too often I’ve been reminded by this quote that I’m putting the “something” or “somewhere” ahead of my primary calling.
Since intimacy with God is central to our life and to following Christ, the first dashboard gauge is the spiritual intimacy gauge. This is the vertical or “being” dimension of our life. It’s about receiving love from God and abiding in, loving, becoming one with and having a friendship with Christ.
At its very core, the spiritual intimacy gauge starts with receiving God’s love. It’s about grasping “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18–19). Receiving God’s love transforms us from the inside out. It determines our great value and shapes our identity.
The spiritual intimacy gauge is also about nurturing this critical relationship. The spiritual disciplines are one key way to cultivate intimacy with God. Our response back to God is one of worship and love—heart, mind and soul.
As the wellspring for the Christian life, our intimacy with God shouldn’t turn us inward. Instead, it should overflow to the rest of our life. If we understand and receive God’s lavish love for us, then it impacts our character. As Scripture says, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). In other words, our love for God will lead to godly choices and actions. Similarly, if we internalize God’s love, it will impact our relationships. As Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Finally, if we understand even a tiny fraction of the magnitude of God’s love for us and the entire world, then his love will overflow through us in service to a world in need.
The spiritual intimacy gauge helps you assess how you are doing in cultivating this critical and central area of your life and leadership. To begin to get a reading of this gauge, you can ask yourself some questions. These questions will get you started:
•Is God’s love really real for you? Is God’s love easy or hard for you to receive and internalize?
•Where do you find your worth? In Christ, in others, or in your title or accomplishments?
•Which of these words and phrases would you use to describe your intimacy with God: dry, distant, neglected, fragile, real, growing, deep, intimate, overflowing?
•Are you intentional about growing with God through disciplined spiritual exercise and rhythms?
•Are you depending on and trusting God more than yourself or other things?
Gauge #2—Character
Immediately following his baptism, Jesus was sent to the desert. In this barren setting after forty long days Jesus was tempted by Satan. This snapshot is just one example of Jesus’ ongoing experience of temptation and conflict. As Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”
In the midst of this ongoing temptation and conflict, Jesus learned obedience, and his character was formed. Jesus was always perfect, holy and innocent of any wrong before God, but as Hebrews 5:8–9 says, “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” To say this in another way, the virtues of obedience and character were developed in Jesus’ life over time.
You and I have another story. We are neither perfect nor innocent before God. We have fallen short in obedient and holiness. Our character has been corrupted, but God desires to change this reality. His aim is to transform us to be like Christ. The grace we received in our salvation is the good work that was begun in us. Ultimately, this good work is carried on to completion by God’s grace in the process of our sanctification.
Our character goes deep and wide. In A Fish Out of Water, George Barna provides a vivid description of character:
Character matters. The word character is derived from the Greek term that refers to engraving, implying that character is the sum of the indelible marks imprinted on you which shape your thoughts and behavior. Character is your inner substance—the content of your heart that is manifested through your behavior and values. Character in other words, is who you are when nobody’s looking. The real you.3
As God seeks to transform our character, he is seeking our obedience, holiness and health. He desires that our lives incorporate and represent his godly character. This is for our own good. Godly character protects us and provides for us. Our godly character also illustrates and demonstrates God’s character to others.
The fruit of the Spirit give a beautiful picture of God’s desire for our character. Our lives are to be marked by “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).
For Christian leaders, God desires another layer of character. In 1 Timothy 3:1–13 and Titus 1:5–9 Paul gives his protégé Timothy a list of character qualities for those called to lead the Church. While these qualities are required for elders, overseers and deacons, it can be argued that this list isn’t for a few but God’s desire for all Christ-followers.
As you read over these lists of qualities for elders, you will notice that something stands out. Actually, it’s the absence of something that stands out. It’s the near absence of competencies in the lists. The lists are almost exclusively about character.
Character is critically important for leaders because leaders face a special danger. In pointing out this danger, pastor and author Andy Stanley writes, “Your talent and giftedness as a leader has the potential to take you farther than your character can sustain you. That ought to scare you.”4 Instead of relying on talent and giftedness, leaders need to be like icebergs. Though talent and giftedness may be seen at times above the waterline, they are supported underneath the waterline by a great depth of character.
Leaders also need to be positive examples. This means that leaders need to walk the talk. Integrity of character helps others to follow our lead. As Andy Stanley writes, “You can lead without character. But character is what makes you a leader worth following.”5
The apostle Paul was able to point to his own example in character and integrity repeatedly. To the Corinthians he said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). To Timothy he wrote,
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings…But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it. (2 Timothy 3:10–14)
Paul’s
