February 20, 2019
“Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.’” – Luke 22:26-27
Servant leadership is a big buzz word in Christian circles today. And though we talk about it often, I’m not convinced we really practice it on a regular basis. The reason for this is that we still desire to be significant, acknowledged, and esteemed. We still assign celebrity status to those who write our books, those who speak at our conferences, and those who preach to massive congregations. But, a servant leader is not concerned with these things. A servant leader does not simply tell people how they should live. He sets the example by humbly serving those he leads, even if it means living a life of obscurity.
In Luke 22, Jesus tells us that he himself, God in the flesh, did not come to be served, honored, or highly esteemed. He came to give himself away; to serve not only his disciples, but all of mankind; to be the ultimate servant. In fact, Jesus was despised and rejected by those of his time. They would refuse to even look his way, and he was very familiar with the pain of it all (Isaiah 53:3). If the highest God has come to serve the most depraved sinner, than who are we to expect adoration from one another?
Father, remove our desire to be esteemed, remove our fear of being forgotten, and fill us with a servant’s heart – the heart of our Savior.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon
