"But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:25-28 (New Living Translation)
Look around today and I think you will agree our nation and our world are in a bit of a leadership crisis. Financial institutions have failed. Major corporations are filing for bankruptcy, whole nations are being brought to the brink of collapse due in large part to their leaders being self-serving leaders versus servant leaders.
Let's bring it a little closer to home, where most of us are in a leadership role as a wife (or husband) and mother (or father.) The picture is not much better with close to 50% of our marriages failing. Typically, at the root of most of our fights and quarrels is our own self-centered desires (James 4:1.)
If we desire to lead like Jesus and reflect Him in our world we will have a servant's heart and we will exemplify sacrifice and selflessness. I know that these are not characteristics that most people would associate with leadership, but according to Christ they are the essential qualities.
How will you lead today?
Look around today and I think you will agree our nation and our world are in a bit of a leadership crisis. Financial institutions have failed. Major corporations are filing for bankruptcy, whole nations are being brought to the brink of collapse due in large part to their leaders being self-serving leaders versus servant leaders.
Let's bring it a little closer to home, where most of us are in a leadership role as a wife (or husband) and mother (or father.) The picture is not much better with close to 50% of our marriages failing. Typically, at the root of most of our fights and quarrels is our own self-centered desires (James 4:1.)
If we desire to lead like Jesus and reflect Him in our world we will have a servant's heart and we will exemplify sacrifice and selflessness. I know that these are not characteristics that most people would associate with leadership, but according to Christ they are the essential qualities.
How will you lead today?
Father, thank you for placing me in the role of being a leader. Please reveal to me the ways in which I am self-serving instead of being a servant leader so that I may change and better reflect You in all that I do. Amen.
Living it Out!
Ask yourself, "Am I a servant leader or a self-serving leader?"
Ask yourself, "Am I a servant leader or a self-serving leader?"
Why are you leading? Why are you a parent? Why are you a volunteer? Why are you a manager? Why are you a (fill in the blank)?
Are you doing it to be served or to serve?
Thank you for the devotionals. They inspire me and help my walk. They keep reminding me of the paradox we become when we receive Christ and surrender daily allowing Him to love, lead, control, etc. The more we surrender the more empowered we become because it is He in us doing.
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