Servant leadership is about self-denial and grace . . .

Genesis 21; Nehemiah 10; Matthew 20; Acts 20

The mother of James and John asked Jesus to promote her sons to places of honor. He told her that was not for Him to do. Of course the others were indignant, probably because they didn’t think of it first.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25–28)

In politics today, serving might be a word used but the model Jesus gave is different from those who do whatever they can to gain the vote and become political authorities. For many, any serving motivation they might have had turns into a power trip or worse, a line-my-pockets determination.

Jesus was never like that. He served to the end, dying for our greatest need — that we might be forgiven of our sin so we can spend eternity with Him. He talked about being a servant/slave to all, but He was never as a yes-man, servile and smiling in agreement, helping everyone get what they want. He knows our hearts and knows our needs better than we do. He served to that end, to meet our real needs, not our felt needs or any selfish demands.

Christian leadership is about self-denial. Those who think “what’s in it for me” should not be there. They might be gifted in many ways but self-serving disqualifies even the most ‘qualified’ because God will not bless their efforts.

Having this devotional time with God is supposed to be seeking His voice for my life, listening for whatever He is saying to me, whether instruction, a rebuke, encouragement or comfort. Yet today, I cannot help but think of my sister and how she fit this servant/leader model. She was one of those rare people who could make things happen by enabling others to do it. Not only that, they loved her for pushing them into doing work that they would never had done without her leading them. She was gifted to lead, but also to give. Her generosity of heart went well with her servant heart. As our brother says, “She was one of a kind.”

Thinking of her helps me hear the voice of the Lord through a live person. Oh, she is not alive here, but she is with Jesus and very much alive. Her life is a conduit for what Jesus is saying to me; self-denial is not dependent on personality, spiritual gifts, obeying God’s laws, or even being a strong people-person. It is a choice between walking in the Spirit and relying on the flesh.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Self-control is self under the control of the Lord Jesus Christ. I need more of that and can be reminded of what it looks like by thinking about my sister and thanking our Savior for His grace that made her the way she is.