Effective leaders teach with light.

When we consider the life of Jesus, we will certainly note that He was an active teacher. He used object lessons to frame His lessons.

The fig tree. A mustard seed. Wheat and chaff. 

He taught as he walked with his disciples. He used visual cues to make points about kingdom living. He taught His disciples to see people in need ... then He called for compassion.

It wasn't enough that Jesus had spiritual vision; he wanted His followers to see what was around them every day. Sometimes the people we see throughout our day are invisible because we make no effort to see them.

We turn a deaf ear, stare with a blind eye, yet busy our thumbs with likes and shares.

There's a big difference between someone who takes pictures and a photographer. One sees with a camera. The other just snaps a shutter.

Last week I spent time with a good friend and skilled photographer. I carved out a few hours of my vacation to just hang out with him and our cameras.

We didn't go anyplace special. There weren't any "Kodak Photo Spots," pointing to an obligatory snapshot that begged for no vision.

Our first stop was at a retention pond off a busy street surrounded by corporate buildings and vehicles belonging to the building's occupants.

When my friend parked and said, "Let's see what's here," I had little faith that there would be many photographs taken.

We walked around the pond and my eyes were opened. I saw a beautiful fountain that sprayed tall into the sky. A rainbow danced through the spray. The shutter on my camera opened and closed with spurts of vision.

Mike showed me how to see a tree limb with reddish-brown leaves. I saw a willow tree with droopy limbs, yet full of joy. And I learned to see an evergreen boasting tiny balls of fruit unseen by people looking through office windows.

After an hour of vision therapy, we went looking for flowers. Mike took us to a place I have never taken a camera and would have never considered for photographs. We went to a landscape nursery.

My eyes opened wide and I saw buckets of flowers as if through the eyes of a child. I saw endless possibilities. I hurried from one flower to the next as if the other flowers might run away.

Mike showed me a few of the photographs he took and darkness was turned to light. I could see things I didn't see through my own lens. It was an amazing few hours of learning to see the light.

Jesus taught his disciples to see light throughout His ministry.

Leaders must do what Jesus did as a teacher. Look for object lessons. Point to the light.

Light changes life. 

Today's Scripture

"I know one thing: I was blind, but now I see" (John 9:25).

Platform Tip No. 133

One of the keys to developing a powerful platform is to have a clear destination and a path to get there.

First, find the right path. In my observation, the primary struggle with growing a platform is determining the right path to the right prospects.

Time and resources are often wasted on a path that leads to people without a felt need.

When we get there, there's no there, there.

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.

Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.

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Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.

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