Meditations for Leaders in the Making (Humility)

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night" - John 3:1-2

There's much theorizing as to why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Was it because it was more convenient for both their schedules; or was it to avoid being seen by fellow Pharisees conversing with the opposition?

One thing was evident to Nicodemus, Jesus was sent by God because of the miracles He did. However, the miracles were not enough for Nicodemus to openly support or respond favorable to His ministry in the open when the honorable and prestigious firm he belonged to was vehemently against Him.

We've all been where Nicodemus was at this point when there is a struggle between the established norm with its fringe benefits, and revealed truth without the frills of life. That's where Nicodemus was. To acknowledge Christ would be to forsake his office and position with all of its perceived power and prestige within the Sanhedrin in exchange for fellowship with a band of perceived heretics whose leader was the son of a carpenter that drew a following of sinners and publicans.

But like the Apostle Paul after him, Nicodemus counted everything he once valued as dung when in the open he and Joseph of Arimathaea took the bloody body of Jesus (becoming ceremonially unclean) and laid it in the tomb.

IN YOUR MAKING TO BE A LEADER, you will encounter those who like Nicodemus will desperately call upon you in the evening to pray for them, their sick, and wayward love ones; to speak a word of hope from God's Word to them----and then when daylight comes, in the midst of their clique, club or mix, they will avoid eye contact with you, they will act as if yesterday evening never occurred.

Don't allow their shame of you (which is actually being ashamed of Christ) make you wish you hadn't ministered to them. Don't allow bitterness to rob you of the hope that your personal Nicodemus like his biblical predecessor will one day unashamedly and without fear publicly embraced and declare the truth revealed through you, Christ's humble servant.