Follow the Leader

 “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:15b (NLT)

Right now my mind is singing the childhood song I used to sing with my children: We’re following the leader, the leader, the leader. We’re following the leader all day long. This childhood anthem teaches a powerful grown-up leadership principle. The world tells us to be a leader and to make a difference. However, Jesus tells His us that to make a difference you must be a follower, a follower of Him.

Jesus had been hailed a leader for the Jewish people. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, restored hearing to the deaf, enabled the lame walk, and brought the dead to life. The disciples watched Jesus’ following grow and believed they would be key leaders in the earthly Kingdom He would establish. They were correct on one part, they would be key leaders but not as they or the world would expect. Jesus’ would show His disciples that effective leaders lead by serving.

In His finally hours of on earth Jesus met with His disciples privately not to roll out leadership strategies on how to overthrow the Roman government but to demonstrate the greatest strengthen of a leader, humility. Bowing before each man, Jesus took a towel and washed the dusty dirty feet of each disciple. When He was finished He imparted the words, “do as I have done.”

Our mind can’t comprehend how serving demonstrates leadership leading or how humility can be seen as strength. We are reminded in Proverbs 3: 5-6 not to lean on our understanding but to acknowledge God in everything we do then trust Him to straighten out the rest. Let’s leave the thinking up to God.

Whose feet are you willing to wash today? OK, maybe not literally but figuratively. Would you empty the waste baskets for the people in your office? Can you clean the home of person in leadership at your church? We are all disciples. We are all leaders of someone. How will you lead today?

Lord, generate in me a heart of humility. Help me see past someone’s dirty feet and serve. It isn’t easy but because You demonstrated humility I want to do as you have done. Amen