How to Serve Like Jesus
When you picture a leader—do you picture yourself?
We all have spheres of influence, which means each of us are called to lead in some capacity. And if we follow Jesus, then we are called to follow the leadership example He set out for us—wherever we are, in whatever we do.
When Jesus washed His disciples feet, he was demonstrating their need to be spiritually cleansed, but he was also showing them what His standard was for leadership. To lead like Jesus, His disciples would need to demonstrate humility and serve others sacrificially.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28 NIV
In first century Israel, washing someone’s feet was typically a servant’s job. It would have been radical to wash His disciples’ feet and then command them to do the same thing. This would have placed each of the disciples in the position of a servant.
But to be great in Jesus’ eyes was to sacrificially serve others. And in order to sacrificially serve others, you need to be willing to view others as better than yourself.
This doesn’t mean that you have a low opinion of yourself. It means that you have such an accurate view of yourself that you don’t see yourself as greater (or less) than you actually are. You see yourself the way Jesus sees you: as someone worthy of being served and worthy of serving others.
It was out of love that Jesus served His disciples, and it was out of love that Jesus willingly went to the cross and sacrificed Himself for us. Jesus illustrated that if we want to become great leaders, then we need to humbly serve others.
And if we want to lead like Jesus, then we need to be like Him.
So right now, ask Jesus to shape the way you view yourself and the people He’s placed in your life. Then, allow Him to show you how you can serve someone from a place of confidence and love today.
Luke 9
“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; and of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. And the ...
God Keeps His Promises
“'The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.”
Jeremiah 33:14 NIV
A lot of people would have laughed at Jeremiah when he said these words. Why? Because it seemed like God had abandoned both Israel and Judah.
At this point in the story of the Bible, Israel is gone—wiped out by an invading army. Now Judah is alone, and another massive army is at their gates to destroy them too. The situation couldn’t have been more hopeless.
Have you ever experienced a moment like that? Maybe it was a life-changing loss, or impossibly difficult news. In those painful moments, it can feel impossible to trust God’s promises. The people listening to Jeremiah probably felt the same way. But it wasn’t the end of their story because circumstances can’t ruin God’s promises.
Yes, the enemy broke in and took God’s people into captivity for decades. But God didn’t abandon His people or give up on...