Jesus The High Road Leader: “Jesus Did The Right Things For The Right Reasons”

Jesus The High Road Leader

“Jesus Did The Right Things For The Right Reasons”

10/13/24

Following Jesus is more than “obeying the ” …

It’s living a life with a sincere and pure , doing the right things for the right reasons.

Motives matter because matter.

Matthew 6:1-4 (CSB) “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. ² So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.³ But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Are you seeking the , or the .

In everything we do, God knows why we do it. And He wants our motivation to align with .

Micah 6:8 (CSB) Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

We often take ourselves too seriously and God not seriously enough.

When we do that, it puts our focus on instead of on God and , which is what God desires.

Matthew 6:5-8 (CSB) “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ⁷ When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. ⁸ Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

Our motives are wrong when are number on our agenda.

With our focus on God, our motives become .

Find The Reason…

What you depends on your motives.

When you lead others for their benefit or for a mutual advantage, you’re them.

When you lead others only for your own benefit, you’re .

Motivation VS Manipulation

Is for your / Is for my

Cares about results and the / Cares only about

Is fueled by / Is fueled by

people / people

people / people

Fosters / Fosters

Takes the / Takes the

Is always the right reason.

Jesus always valued over rules, over law, and over religion. He never allowed legalism to displace .

When you people, them, and want to them, it’s very difficult for your motives to be wrong.

is always the right thing.

Matthew 6:12-15 (CSB) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ¹⁴ “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. ¹⁵ But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Forgiveness not only others, but it also changes our .

Only a changed will do the right things for the right reasons.

Take The High-Road Initiative

(Kent M. Keith) “Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership”

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. them anyway.

Luke 23:34 (CSB) Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do anyway.

Mark 3:22 (CSB) The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do anyway.

Luke 17:17-19 (CSB) Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸ Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ And he told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be and anyway.

Luke 12:51 (CSB) Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. people anyway.

Luke 4:18-19 (CSB) The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Luke 4:29 (CSB) They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the you have anyway.

Matthew 27:21-22 (CSB) The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. ²² Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him!”

The best you can give to someone is .

You cannot give what you do not have.