Craft. Connect. Uplift.
It’s a slogan attached to a coffee company. It makes me smile every time I see it. I appreciate company names or slogans that make you think. Like X-Spurts Plumbing. Loved that one every time I saw it as a kid riding in the back seat through Spokane.
If you were selecting a slogan or name to describe the focus and purpose for your days, what might it be? My husband’s favorite name was given to him many years ago by an unruly bunch of Kindergarten Little Leager boys and girls: Coach Ben’s Dad. It may seem like a mouthful to you, but it was apparently easier than Coach Ron for those kindergarteners.
In Scripture, there are many names given Jesus … The Christ, Messiah, Savior, Prince of Peace, Redeemer, Son of God, Son of Man, Righteous One, Author of life. I recently read one I had not noticed before, in Acts 5.31.
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Leader. In my lifetime this is a word used, often perhaps, with a healthy dose of disregard. When I was a kid, we played follow the leader. Every kid wanted to be the leader and so, admittedly or not, our focus was besting everyone else so we could be the next leader. I’ll admit to an unhealthy dose of elementary school smugness when I got to be the leader. Game leadership was always a personal disappointment because, well, the other kids treated me just like I treated them, wanting to remove me as quickly as possible from my podium of perceived power.
That’s not the kind of leader we’re reading about in Scripture, Acts chapter 5. And our response to the biblical Leader should be vastly different than my childhood situation.
The word Leader in Acts 5.31 is translated from the Greek word archegos which means
- the chief leader
- prince
- the author
- one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer.
The same word is translated as Author of life in Acts 3.15.
But you (the Jewish leaders) denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murder to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. Acts 3.14-15
The Leader is someone you want to follow, someone who takes the lead, is an exceptional example, shows you the way … because He has gone before you and knows the path. He is of integrity and with single purpose. To lead you where you should go. To give you exactly what you need – repentance and forgiveness. He is the Author of life. Your life. My life.
So here’s my suggested best personal slogan for each of us: I’m following the Leader. Let’s make it true today and again tomorrow. Amen and amen.
Trusting in Jesus with you. Blessings, Colleen
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