Reading through the Bible in a year has led me to 1 John, and his favorite word: “Love”. Love is the command to follow. Love is who God is. Love is what God has shown to us. Love is what God brings to us. Love is what God calls us to bring to this world. Love is the leader’s best option.
Tina Turner might ask, “What’s love got to do with it?” John answers: Everything!
I am at the age where I can still drink caffeine in my coffee. I still need caffeine in my coffee. I know some people prefer decaf with their coffee, but let’s be honest. A cup of decaf coffee might look good, smell good, taste good, but does absolutely nothing on the inside. Put caffeine in the coffee and you get that morning jolt that puts a spring in your step and an edge to your living.
Unfortunately many relationships fall in the decaf coffee mode. They look good on the outside, but are empty of any energy or passion on the inside. Such relationships need some oomph, some caffeine, a jolt of love that lives out God’s love. John gives us the leader’s best option, We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
Such love drives out fear, builds up faith, and is the foundation for solid leadership.
I haven’t heard the value of love debated about it any presidential debates. Outside of Tim Sanders book, “Love is the killer ap”, I’d be hard pressed to see at the top of any business leadership book list.
Yet John knows of what he writes, for John experienced the love of Christ and that changed his life. It can change your life, too.
So what is love? 1 John 4:10, This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Jesus not only said, greater love has no man then to lay down his life for his friends. He went out the next day and did exactly that. John heard Jesus say it, John saw Jesus live it. John learned to lead with love.
Who have you seen lead with the power of love? What made their leadership so unique?
Richard Burkey 
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How old is old enough to drink decaf? I may have started too young. Is there a rule about that? 😀