And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" — Acts 20:32-35

This text is remarkable because it reflects profound leadership and spiritual maturity all at the same time. Paul is communicating in this text is a lesson only learned when we have successfully transferred what God has taught us to others. It is a lesson beyond classroom learning and textbook education because it requires us to live out what we have proclaimed to others. And yet, in this statement, we find these microlessons about leadership like leading with integrity, working hard, taking responsibility, and contributing to the lives of others.

But all this is fueled by one thing. Just one thing. And this one thing is not another leadership principle, tactic, or strategy. It's not something out of reach for young leaders or young believers. And get this, it is not something you can do but something that was done for you. And it is something that sustains our leadership and spiritual life at the same time. It is this one thing — grace.

The grace that Paul talks about here restores, sustains, directs, and defines all men. It is something extended to us by God when we did not deserve it. It is something that guides the character of a man day by day. It is the plumb line for our identity when we are shaken to the core. It is the power by which we take another step when we fall into sin again. It is the power that leads us when we are uncertain of the future. And when a man knows God's grace, he knows the richest inheritance in this life.

A man who knows God's grace is the most capable leader. And the reason this is is that a man who knows God's grace knows this — he knows he is not The Leader. He is the follower. God is The Leader. And godly leaders learn this and point others to the same grace that they have received. Godly leaders understand that leadership principles, strategies, and tactics only puff a man up. They elevate the self and therefore have limited effectiveness with very short-term gains that will not last. But the man who knows God's grace and models it leads others to an inheritance that will empower them for a lifetime. It's an inheritance that will last far beyond them. And that's great leadership.

Consider this question today: How can you extend God's grace to every person you encounter? I would challenge you to consider this question in every encounter you have today? And I bet you if you started extending a little grace to people around you, you might discover what Paul was experiencing in this text here. That is wasn't about him. It was about something done for him that others needed to know — grace.

ASK THIS: To whom do you need to extend some grace today? (Share their name or initials below)

DO THIS: Extend grace to others in the same way you received it from God.

PRAY THIS: God, I need your grace so that I might extend it to others.

PLAY THIS: Unspoken - Call It Grace.

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