Lead By Serving

Matthew 20: 25-28

Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Mark 10: 42-45

... For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. 

Luke 22: 25-27

And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called "Benefactors." 
But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.

We are not to lord over others our authority over them, but to humble ourselves in serving those we are responsible for. 

Jesus' life is our example that we are to model our attitudes and character after. We are to grow spiritually into the very image of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we must act like He acted. The WWJD craze that was all the rage a few years ago was on the right track. We really do need to think about what Jesus would do, how He would respond, to the stimulus that is affecting us right now. 

Our response to others is to be one of humility, of recognizing that the other's worth is as valuable as mine, and is due the respect that can elevate them and lift them up in the Lord. We are to build one another up in the Lord, to edify (Romans 14:19; I Thessalonians 5:11). That is how we are to lead--by serving. 

O my Father, please help us to get this. Help us to understand how Your ways can be the complete opposite of what the World says. Father, it seems that we as Your church, are still steeped in the ways of the World, instead of Your ways. 

Teach me, Father, how to serve and honor those I would like to lead to You. I don't want followers of me, but only followers of my Lord. If their following me is leading them to You, Lord, then lead me steadily and consistently in Your path. Don't let me turn to the right or to the left, don't let me run ahead or lag behind You, don't let me pull away or wander off. Lead me to lead them into Your righteousness and holiness. 

And You will receive all the accolaides, all the praise, all the applause. You will receive all the honor, all the glory, all the blessings and riches and wisdom of the ages. Because only You deserve it all.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!