This morning in worship I was moved by the words of the hymn, I Sought the Lord, and Afterward I Knew. This hymn recalled to my mind Jesus' story of the shepherd and the lost sheep. I've included the text of hymn and the story below for your reflection.These texts reveal to us Jesus as the Seeking Leader. Jesus actively seeks those who have wondered away. Jesus pursues the well-being of his followers.
For those of us who desire to lead like Jesus, how do we respond to the image of Jesus as the Seeking Leader? How could this image of Jesus shape our leadership behaviors? Can you think of a situation where you have experienced a seeking leader? Does a present challenge come to mind where it would be appropriate for you to be a seeking leader? What does it mean to be a seeking leader in an organizational context?
I Sought the Lord, and Afterward I Knew
I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew he moved my soul to seek him seeking me;
it was not I that found, O Savior true; no, I was found was found of thee.
It was not I that found, O Savior true; no, I was found, was found of thee.
Thou didst reach forth thy hand and mine enfold; I walked and sank not on the stormvexed sea; 'twas not so much that I on thee took hold, as thou, dear Lord, took hold on me.
'twas not so much that I on thee took hold, as thou, dear Lord, took hold on me.
I find, I walk, I love; but, oh, the whole of love is but my answer, Lord, to thee!
For thou wert long beforehand with my soul; always, always thou lovedst me.
For thou wert long beforehand with my soul; always, always thou lovedst me.
(Sung to the tune a Finlandia. A recording of the tune is included at the end of this blog)
Story of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:1-7, NLT)
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people-- even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!
I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew he moved my soul to seek him seeking me;
it was not I that found, O Savior true; no, I was found was found of thee.
It was not I that found, O Savior true; no, I was found, was found of thee.
Thou didst reach forth thy hand and mine enfold; I walked and sank not on the stormvexed sea; 'twas not so much that I on thee took hold, as thou, dear Lord, took hold on me.
'twas not so much that I on thee took hold, as thou, dear Lord, took hold on me.
I find, I walk, I love; but, oh, the whole of love is but my answer, Lord, to thee!
For thou wert long beforehand with my soul; always, always thou lovedst me.
For thou wert long beforehand with my soul; always, always thou lovedst me.
(Sung to the tune a Finlandia. A recording of the tune is included at the end of this blog)
Story of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:1-7, NLT)
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people-- even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!
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