Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

Rather than berate them, Jesus sits down, calls the twelve to him, and teaches them the heart of kingdom greatness. “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” This principle of greatness through service, being first by becoming last and servant of all, marks every dimension of our Lord’s life. From his birth, his adolescence and adulthood, in every phase of his life and ministry, our Lord had proven the truth of this dynamic principle. In a real sense, he calls the disciples to imitate his own life, and to embody in their characters and practices the same lowliness and humility that characterized his own dealings. Greatness is not about comparing our abilities, significance, resources, achievements and talents to others. Greatness, by Christ’s definition, is available to anyone who is willing to become last, to become the servant of all. And what is the concrete image of this humility. Jesus takes a child and placed him in the midst of the apostles, and taking the little one in his arms , he gave the sense of lowliness required. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” This links the lowliness that we express to the most humble person to the very person of the King himself. Truly, our Messiah cannot be approached or received on any other ground than lowly ground. Humility is the only doorway to receiving him. To what extent does your life and ministry reflect the wisdom and revelation that Jesus gave to his disciples that day. Do you flesh out in your life the reality that to become first, you must become last, the servant of all? This is both a revelation of God, and a standard of leadership. Without lowliness and humility, without servanthood and submission, there can be no leadership, no maturity, no representation of Christ. This is precisely why there are so few true Christian leaders. Many (if not most) are not willing to go so low in order to be raised high. Commit yourself afresh to the this basic but revolutionary redefinition of the meaning of greatness. “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Would you like to be first, too?

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