Mark 10: 41-45 (NLT)
When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. So 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 be the slave of everyone else. 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.”
Yesterday, I bared my honest, egotistical soul when it came to serving in places of honor. My final note dealt with learning humility. Genuine-heart-after-Christ-humility. During the course of learning this (because it’s a life-long process after all), I took my students through a study on servant leadership. The Scripture inspiring the series was Mark 10:43, “Whoever wants to be great among you must become a servant to all.” To layout the entire six-week course would take too long for the devotional. So here is a compilation of the highlights:
-To aspire to servant-leadership is an honorable ambition (1 Timothy 3:1)
-Seek leadership to glorify GOD and encourage others, not to promote yourself
-A servant-leader demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:1-4)
-A servant-leader doesn’t want the position
-Qualities of servant-leadership include: vision, discipline, decision-making, wisdom, humility, integrity, courage, and sincerity
-Prayer is the dominant feature of the servant-leader’s life
-The servant-leader must be willing to accept the costs (self-sacrifice, bouts of loneliness, fatigue, criticism, rejection, pressure)
-The servant-leader only desires to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 35:23)
Application: Take the aspect of servant-leadership that you lack and practice it today. Example: Make prayer the “dominate feature” of your day.
