Saturday, March 9, 2013 - 11:50 pm

Today I read John 13 & 14, and in John 13, Jesus exemplified the spirit of servant leadership. Verses 3-5 say that Jesus knew the power that He had, and His place of authority in the grand scheme of things. What did He do with that knowledge, that power, that authority? He took up the menial task that a servant would do, and He served those under His power and authority. In verses 12-17, He explains this to them. Serving them has not undermined His power or authority, He is still rightly their leader, but it has recognized their value, and given them respect and honour. It has been an example of the way He wants them, and all Christians, to treat one another. In verse 17, He says, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." In other words, as if we didn't already know, there is a blessing in honest humility, and bending down to lift others up. This is not the kind of leadership that blends well with insecurity. If we don't recognize our value, or the power and authority that we've been given, we'll be too insecure to lead through service, and will more likely step on others in order to feel that we have an exalted position. That misses the heart of God on two levels: God is about lifting up the lowly, weak and humble, not pushing them down; and God Himself has lifted us up and recognized our value. When we recognize and seek God's heart in these two areas, we cease to fear for our own position, and instead naturally gravitate toward serving others. Let's recognize how blessed we are, and the potential we have been given to lift others up, simultaneously reflecting Christ to them.