Monday, August 8, 2016

August 9, 2016

"Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45

Jesus wants to teach you to follow so you will know how to lead. 

Leadership, according to Jesus, has to do with how you use authority. If you are not properly under authority you will be inclined to abuse your authority by forcing your will on others.

Only by following Jesus can you learn to lead as He led. He was the Son of God. He had the authority of God His Father available to Him. But rather than leverage His authority to His advantage or benefit He used His authority to lift others. He made His authority available to those who followed Him. He made Himself available to His followers.

Jesus was led by His Father's love. He lived in His Father's love. He lead in His Father's love. He leveraged His Father's love to the advantage of those who followed Him.

The rulers of the Romans lorded their authority over those who served under them. They held onto their power and prestige and used it to their full advantage. So did the Jewish religious leaders. But to those who followed Jesus He said, "Not so with you!"

Followers of Jesus lead differently than others who don't. Followers of Jesus lead in love like Jesus does. Followers of Jesus serve those they lead like Jesus does. Followers of Jesus lend their authority to those they lead. Followers of Jesus give themselves to those they lead just like Jesus did.

If you want to lead well. If you want to be great. Lead like Jesus. And if you want to lead like Jesus follow Him well.