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anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 25 July 2023 – Leadership Is Service

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TOPIC: Leadership Is Service

READ: Mark 10:35-45 (NKJV)

  1. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
  2. And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
  3. They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
  4. But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
  5. They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;
  6. “but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but [it is for those] for whom it is prepared.”
  7. And when the ten heard [it,] they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.
  8. But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
  9. “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
  10. “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
  11. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

THE MESSAGE:

Service is a fundamental aspect of leadership; it has been proved that leadership is not a title but a vehicle for service. The moment service is removed from leadership, what is left is an empty carcass. We live today in a world where everybody wants to be a leader without a focus on serving God and humanity. Some people detest receiving instructions from others rather they want to give out orders. This played out in our text today, when the two Sons of Zebedee, James and John, came to Jesus selfishly requesting Him to make them “… sit one at the right hand and the other on the left hand” in His glory (verse 37). They were desperate for position without considering the cost and the feelings of others. The response of Jesus Christ made it clear that leadership should be seen as a tool of service and nota weapon of threat (verses 42&43).

Beloved, the pathway to greatness in life is service. A responsible follower of Christ will always look for services to render in order to make the kingdom of God increase in all areas, not what to gain. The more service to God and humanity, the more you will be rewarded. Our attitude to leadership should be Christ-like. Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (verse 45). Your position of leadership is not to oppress your subjects but build them up; it is to serve the purpose of God in the lives of His people. Jesus admonishes that we should not be like the gentiles whose aim in leadership is to make their followers groan; your leadership should build up the Body of Christ not tear it apart. Remember, you will give account of what you do with your God-given position. You are supposed to be a servant-leader, serving God and man faithfully.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant me grace to serve faithfully in leadership in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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