The Bible reverberates with the message of redemption from the book of Genesis in the beginning to Revelations at the end. This is because Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and break relationship with Him in favour of self-determination and self-governance. They chose to listen to the devil who ‘comes to kill, steal and destroy’ (John 10:10) instead of listening to their creator and Father. As a result they came under the curse of sin and death and eternal separation from God. They were doomed to die unless God stepped in to save and redeem.

What if everything we were looking for in our leaders was wrong? The 'born leader' is easily recognisable, but when Jesus chose the men who would start a worldwide movement... he didn't choose whom we might have expected. Who Jesus chose, actually made Jesus quite unimpressive. The other Rabbis had the most gifted young men begging to follow them, literally imitating their every move. Jesus however, had to pick his own disciples, who were anything but extraordinary (Matt 4:18-22). So what does the 'humbly confident' leader look like?

What is man by nature? Most Christians who know how to speak 'Christianese' will quickly raise their hand, and like a modern day Pharisee, coldly exclaim: "A sinner!" while feeling comforted by the fact that they are not going to hell and no longer view themselves in this way. While this answer is not untrue, it assumes too much understanding and agreement. It would be better to go a little more 101 on the answer. Man is by nature lost, outside of the environment he was created for, infected with a killer disease inherited by our first parents. Our response to this determines a lot. There are innumerable ways of responding, which have created cultures and sub-cultures within societies all over the world. These all stem from the sin of pride - finding a way to live, without the Creator of life. The only way that heals the disease, is to accept the finished substitutionary work achieved for man by Jesus Christ on the cross i.e. receive the gospel. Accepting his gracious gift of life, undoes the disease of sin running rampant through our bodies, minds, and feelings. We are essentially uninfected. Healed by his blood. Humility is our right response to this magnificent gift, and is therefore something that is natural and can be nurtured. 

How is humility nurtured?