Satisfy the Savior

Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified. - Mark 15:15

Here we see a leader who desired to gratify the "crowd" or "mob," but he had to crucify the Savior to do it.

In every church, ministry, or missionary organization you will find the Holy Spirit, a "crowd," and some "disciples." The competent leader is conscious of the "crowd's" existence, but he listens to the disciples as they are led and influenced by the Holy Spirit. It seems that most errors in leadership are made when decision-makers mistake the voice of the crowd for the voice of God.

God speaks through His Word, His Church, and His Spirit, but He never speaks directly through the "crowd" or perhaps better identified "mob."

Leaders must discern who is speaking lest they be guilty (in following the unrighteous mob) of crucifying Christ, or at least His purposes, all over again. The task is not to gratify the crowd, but rather to satisfy the Savior.

Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right. - Charles Spurgeon