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.