Today’s Bible Reading:
Exodus 10:1-12:13
Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 25:1-15
Proverbs 6:6-11
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Matthew 20:26-28 (NLT): “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 become your slave. 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.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
The one attribute that is probably the most unbecoming of a Christian is pride. Yet, it is so prevalent among people who profess to be Jesus-followers.
Pride is what causes the church attender to talk about all of the sins “out there in the world.” Pride is what causes a Christian to quickly condemn another Christian who has been overcome by sin. Pride causes a supposed Jesus-follower to feel no compelling need to spend time in the Bible and in prayer because they feel they have arrived. On and on, we could go in describing what pride looks like.
In the verses that I have chosen for today, Jesus tells us that leaders must lead with humility. They must see leadership as a form of servitude.
Matthew 20:26-27 “…Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.”
We may be tempted to write this command off as irrelevant because we do not perceive ourselves as leaders. Yet, if you influence anyone, you are a leader. Understanding that leadership is simply influence, you don’t even need a position of leadership to be a leader.
So I can virtually guarantee that you, my friend, are a leader. There is at least one person who you influence. In reality, there’s probably many more than that. Therefore, Jesus’ words are incredibly relevant to you and me.
How should Jesus-followers live so that we can lead well? We kick pride to the curb and live with an attitude of humility. We don’t see leadership as an opportunity to benefit at the expense of others. That’s pride. Instead, we see leadership as an ability to serve and bless others. That’s humility.
Jesus didn’t stop there, though. He gave us an example that we are to mimic. Himself!
Matthew 20:26-28 (NLT): “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 become your slave. 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.”
Friend, if you want to live as a genuine Jesus-follower, then you and I must do what Jesus has told us to do. In Matthew 20:26-28, Jesus not only told us to lead with humility, but He also demonstrated how we are to do so.
Today, as you venture into the world, seek to positively influence others. But don’t do it for what you can get out of it. Instead, serve others with a desire that they are blessed. As you do, you will almost certainly be laying up treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).
Matt’s Musings 