Leadership

All of us are given a place of leadership (sphere of influence) by God.  Even if it is just to govern our own lives in keeping with his law.  The following verses spoke to me about guarding our thoughts and actions in relationship to people so that we may be a help rather than an hindrance to them.

Lamentations 1-2:19; Philemon 1-25; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 26:20 (Common English Bible)

Let this verse be a warning whenever you are tempted to water down the truth that would set a friend or loved one free.  If God gives you a warning for a brother or sister in Christ give it in love.  Just imagine you are sitting in the back of your friends car as they back out.  Your friend is distracted and you are watching them heading straight for a tree.  Wouldn't you yell stop?

Lam 2:14 Your prophets gave you worthless and empty visions.
They didn’t reveal your sin so as to prevent your captivity.
Instead, they showed you worthless and incorrect prophecies.

Let this also be a warning whenever you are tempted to tell people what to do rather than asking them.  Put your faith in God's ability to take care of all your needs.

Philemon 8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to command you to do the right thing, 9 I would rather appeal to you through love.

Be careful to ask the hard questions so as to really know the people that will be giving you counsel and doing work on your behalf.  Be in constant communication with those that you will be leaning on as to how they are dealing with sin in their lives.  For we all fall at times.  Yet broken people often forget to be restored which leads to secrecy and more sin.  Just as you would not ask a brother to help you move that just broke his arm take not the counsel of a brother in the area where he is struggling.

Psalm 101:6 My eyes focus on those
    who are faithful in the land,
    to have them close to me.
The person who walks without blame
    will work for me.
7 But the person who acts deceitfully
    won’t stay in my house.
The person who tells lies
    won’t last for long before me.

Proverbs 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without gossips, conflict calms down.