Father, grant me the grace to serve with a pure heart that I may be qualified to lead in humble righteousness. Wherever I end up, I know that You are working within me both to desire and to do Your perfect will. Let Your will be done in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

The leaders in industry, education, politics, sports, and technical achievement reach their positions of leadership only through personal sacrifice and a significant investment of their abilities and resources.

In the same manner, you cannot sit in a seat of authority next to Jesus without paying a price. You must lay down your life for the Lord before you can put your foot on the neck of the enemy. Leadership always costs.

All across this nation, people are preaching popular messages that say we can come to God and get what we want or need without making a deposit or an investment. They claim that there is no price to pay to be a ruler in the kingdom. They are preaching some book other than the Bible.

On one hand, it is true that Jesus “paid it all.” He did pay the supreme price so you would not have to bear the penalties for your sins. Yet there is still another price you must pay to ascend into the mountain of God. Jesus paid the price of redemption to get you through the gate. Now, according to Paul the apostle, it is up to you to work out or “walk out” your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Kingdom leadership requires faith, obedience, diligence, and a humble servant’s heart. No one listens to a ruler in authority who has not paid the price. You must earn the right to speak by serving others. You earn the right to lead by submitting to those who lead you; you earn the right to exercise authority by submitting to those in authority over you. In obvious contrast to popular American culture, there are no shortcuts or “fast tracks” in God’s kingdom. Jesus said it all when He told His disciples, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35 nkjv).