Presented by Lauren Stibgen

Even though the phrase servant leadership isn’t a biblical term, the Bible does tell us as leaders to serve! I am so thankful for God’s Word and how it truly can inform how we work! Jesus tells us to serve in this passage.

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves (Luke 22:25-26).

This verse follows a dispute among the disciples about who would be regarded as the greatest.

Although we don’t read as much detail about the last supper in Luke’s account, we need to consider how Jesus modeled servant leadership to the disciples that night.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13:3-5).

Jesus knew he was all powerful. God had put all things under his power yet he took the posture of a lowly servant and washed his disciples’ feet, going as far as to use the towel on his body to dry them.

He did not exercise lordship over them and demand they wash his feet, rather as the leader, he was the one who served.

Do you exercise lordship, or, as a leader, do you serve? Maybe you are not yet thinking of yourself as a leader. Let’s remove the notions of worldly appointments and titles. Jesus was not considered a leader by the people of his time, at least not in the sense of the synagogue or even in politics. It was through his service of speaking the Word of God, healing the sick, and performing miracles that Jesus came to be seen as a leader. And for some, his leadership blessed them, and others, it threatened. He didn’t demand lordship as the Son of God, demanding to be followed. He was followed because he served!

If you find yourself in a position where you do hold a title, are you using this for the betterment of those who see you in this position? What do they see? Are you demanding respect or giving it? Are you watching your team struggle to complete work or are you seeking to help?

Presented by Lauren Stibgen

Did you know the widely-used workplace term servant leader doesn’t have roots in the Bible? Sometimes, when something seems to fit what we believe as followers of Jesus, we easily ascribe it to what we know from the Bible. You and I know there is no better wisdom for living than God’s Word! Whether in our personal or business life, we find truth and goodness for any situation we face in His Word. And, although the author and scholar who coined this term didn’t find this truth from the Bible, we clearly see the Word calls us to lead lives as servant leaders.

What is it mean to be a servant leader? Coined by Robert Greenleaf in 1970 in an essay “The Servant as a Leader”, Greenleaf seeks to understand a character from a fictional story—not the Bible. This story talks about a band of men on a mythical journey who have a servant who cares for their every need. “Once he disappears, their band falls apart, and everything is in disarray.” One of the members finds the servant later, and discovers he is a “guiding spirit, and noble leader.”[1]

To my listeners today, this is why abiding in the Word and in community with other believers is critical! We might say Greenleaf was reading biblical allegory, but he was not! Greenleaf goes on to describe who a servant leader is. Some of a servant’s characteristics include someone who desires to serve and then become a leader rather than having a leader-first attitude seeking unusual power or material possessions. A servant leader makes sure the needs of other people are his highest priority, and they are receiving benefits from the servant leader. Further descriptors of servant leadership include empowering others, standing back to let others shine, humility, authenticity, courage, accountability, acceptance of other perspectives, and stewardship.

Let’s replace this fictional character and the worldly descriptors and think of Jesus in God’s word, which is where we need to seek our wisdom about being a servant leader!

—

[1] Greenleaf, R. K. (1970). The servant as leader. The Greenleaf Center For Servant Leadership, Cop.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen

As Christians, we often consider ourselves servant leaders, but how was this phrase born into our business vocabulary as something to aspire to whether you are a follower of Jesus or not? And why do we consider servant leadership biblical at all?

First, for those of you who missed the conversation about the roots of servant leadership in secular business, it all began in 1970 when Robert Greenleaf mused over an allegory about a servant who ended up being a leader of a great band of men. This story was not biblical, but it sparked the thought that those who serve with an others-first focus can become some of the greatest leaders; more than leaders who are bestowed with a title who desire power, authority, and self-focused gratification.

The phrase servant leader is not specifically found in the Bible. How many times is the word leader even used in the Bible? Just a quick look in my Bible’s concordance—you know the list of words in the back with references to verses—the word leader is not listed. Only, lead, leads and led. People who lead are listed. Rulers along with kings, but both rulers and kings would better describe appointed positions of authority.

In the New Testament, the word diakonia—meaning servant or service—is the most used word to describe people in leadership. Not surprising the words servant, servants, serve, and service take up much more space in the concordance than any of the other “official” terms for the appointed offices.

Perhaps this is why we are drawn to the term servant leader as followers of Jesus. It is deeply connected to the Word of God in describing those in the early church.

In Romans 16:1 speaks of Phoebe, a servant and patron of the church. 1 Corinthians 3:5 exhorts, What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. We know each of these servants were in fact leaders of the early church.

All early church leaders had one thing in common—submission and obedience to the will of God in their lives. They looked to their relationship with God in Jesus before even considering the work before them.

In his book, Forgotten God, Francis Chan sums up our need for seeking and submission well in his introduction when he writes, “…as believers we can never be done with God. He is infinite and we are finite; there will always be more of his character to discover, more of his love to experience and more of his power to use for his purposes.”[1]

More of his power—not my power—to lead. His power made perfect through me for his purposes. True servant leadership begins in submission to God through Christ Jesus. We see this throughout Scripture. We see the success of those who submit themselves to the Lord’s will and the failure and despair of those who choose to lead by selfish ambition and pride.

True servant leadership as a follower of Jesus Christ starts with a posture of submission. Is this on a leadership description for your next job—must be willing to submit. We can all say probably not. But are you willing to submit in order to become a better servant leader? God rarely uses the shiny, well-educated people to make the biggest impact for his kingdom. Remember, the disciples were mostly fishermen and a tax collector! So, if you are submitted, be prepared for God to use you as a servant leader right where you are!

I have thought a lot about the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Submission to the will of God was most of his story, and God used him to glorify himself during a deeply sinful time filled with idol worship. Found in 1 Kings, God used Elijah to give word to Ahab of a drought in the land. During this time, the Lord sent Elijah away where ravens and a non-Israelite widow provided for him! We learn he stayed by a river for a while, and when it dried up, Elijah moved on.

He was completely reliant on God and obedient to his call. Finally, we see Elijah return and challenge those worshiping Baal to call upon their God to consume a sacrifice on an altar. Elijah also prepares a sacrifice, which he completely douses in water. God moves in a mighty way to consume every lick of the water and sacrifice from Elijah leaving the Baal worshipers proclaiming the Lord, he is God! (1 Kings 18:39).

Being a servant leader can call us into uncomfortable places. But, like Elijah, will God use these moments to help us exalt his name to allow others to see him—perhaps proclaiming the Lord, he is God!

Jesus showed us the ultimate submission to God and provided plenty of examples both in word and deed as a servant leader.

Sometimes we feel like it would be nice to have the easy way out! I would caution, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is! This can even happen as you are trying to grow in position and title in your career. Your submission to the Lord in all things serves as a protection from these things, and we see this in Jesus’ example. In Matthew 4, we read about the temptation of Jesus. The devil tempts him in three ways. One was with power.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him (Matthew 4:8-11).

Have you heard the proverb, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall? Proverbs 16:18 warns of what will happen when we choose not to follow the submission modeled to us by Jesus. It is easy to get wrapped in the appeal of seeing the world in all its glory, but when we forget who owns it all—God’s—we can count on a fall.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see his call to serve and submit to God. In the story of the rich young man in Matthew 19, we see a man ask how he can inherit eternal life. He talks to Jesus about how he has followed the commandments, but Jesus tells him to sell all he has, give it to the poor and follow him. The man was “disheartened” and went away. Jesus was calling him to a servant’s submission.

Jesus knew we would struggle with submission and be tempted to worldly greatness. One of the most profound examples of his servant leadership was washing the disciples’ feet. When the twelve were gathered for the last supper, they were conversing about who would be the greatest among them in the kingdom with Jesus. The humble example of washing their feet called them to serve one another as he was serving them.

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves (Luke 22:25-26).

Jesus, their leader, served them.

Jesus modeled submission to God in his ultimate sacrifice for our sins on the cross. And we know he was in submission to God in this matter. Luke 22:42 shows Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane praying and weeping before the Lord saying,

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

In Matthew 23: 1-12, Jesus teaches his disciples using the scribes and Pharisees as an example, stating they do their deeds to be seen by others. Jesus tells them to not be called rabbi or instructor because they have one instructor, Christ himself. He further teaches,

“The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).

As servant leaders we need to remember we are part of the body of Christ—the church.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

They were together, serving one another. Being a member of the Body of Christ, we need to consider how we are lifting up one another in community to be the best servant leaders we can be, first to one another and to those in our family, community, and workplace!

In fact, we can’t be good servant leaders if we are not abiding in this way! Being in community with other believers reminds us of our submission to the Lord in Christ Jesus because apart from him, we can do nothing!

Servant leadership sees people on an equal playing field; everyone has their part. Servant leaders see people as the Lord sees people: uniquely made, gifted specifically, and loved by him. Let’s remind ourselves today of the greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind, and to love our neighbors as ourself.

Servant leadership is this love in action to others! You may be feeling like being in a leadership position at work isn’t important to the kingdom—on the contrary! God has likely “gifted” you in your talents for this role specifically! But he also calls you to remember that just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function…We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4, 6-8).

These verses remind us leadership is a gift of grace from God! But, more importantly, it is not the only gifting!

All of us have an opportunity to be a servant leader in the unique ways God has gifted you as a beloved part of his body!

I want to impress upon you today our greatest success will come in beautiful submission to God our Father in Christ Jesus first! It will be then the Holy Spirt works within you for the glory of the Kingdom.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4: 15-16).

How are you growing up to Christ today, remembering you are only one part of his body? Jesus called us to serve one another in this body of Christ so we can work properly and build up the body in love!

Worldly notions of leadership simply do not embody the Christian life. Jesus does not call us to a titled life. He calls us to love as a servant leader, and true servant leadership starts with a submission to him!

—

[1] Chan, F., & Yankoski, D. (2015). Forgotten God : reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit. David C. Cook.

Here’s the word of wisdom for today: The quality of your work reveals your character.

Did you realize your work tells what kind of person you are? The Bible tells us the works of God reveal to us what kind of God he is. The beauty of his creation, the majesty and grandeur of his universe give us a clear view of his character and his personality.

That’s true of us as well. Just suppose someone who doesn’t know you at all was asked to write a description of you based upon an audit and inspection of your work. What would that audit reveal?

Are you careful to do your work with thoroughness, or would your work reveal a careless attitude? Does your work show you are considerate of the person at the receiving end or at the next stage of your work? Or would the inspector conclude you’re in a hurry to get through and get going, because your work is sloppy?

When your work involves dealing with other people, would it reveal an attitude of respect and concern for others? Do you think the inspector would conclude you care about other people, and you treat everyone with respect? Or would it reveal a callousness toward others, treating them like numbers and not bothering to be kind and considerate toward them?

Could anyone tell by the quality of your work you do it as unto the Lord? Would it look different from those who aren’t Christians?

As I look at the work of God’s hands, I know so much about his loving, caring nature. His work reveals his character to me. Your work reveals your character as well. Would you be pleased to have someone describe you based on the work you’ve done this week? It’s a good word of wisdom we need to think about frequently.

Remember, you’ll find a copy of this devotional along with a set of Wisdom for the Workplace cards for your use here.

Do you need a word of wisdom for the workplace today? I’m offering nuggets of wisdom for the workplace. In fact, you can have a set of cards here, very nicely designed, with these words of wisdom, for your own edification, or to pass along to a friend who may be in need.

Here’s my word of wisdom for today: Don’t let anxiety or fear rob you of God’s peace.

Are you feeling anxious about something today? Are you very disturbed by a situation in your life? Does it seem impossible to find any rest and peace right now? All of us have gone through and are still going through difficult times, which creates anxiety and fear. A passage in Isaiah 48 is very helpful when you are not at peace.

This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:17-18).

Anxiety and unrest are often a result of our failure to pay attention to what we know about God. Rarely do we need some new truth or principle; we just need to practice what we know already.

I find I rarely make a deliberate decision to wander from God’s principles. It’s simply a failure to pay attention to what I know already. My focus gets fractured. I move slightly off-center, simply because I haven’t paid attention like I should.

And when this happens, I lose my peace, and I’m anxious and frustrated. When you start to dig underneath those outward effects, you often discover the cause is failure to pay attention to God’s commands. It may be something that seems very small, but if we walk away from doing it God’s way, we can expect to lose the peace and rest we so need.

The Lord told his people, if only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river. If you’re missing peace in your life today, see if there’s some area where you’re not paying attention to God. Once you get that straightened out, that wonderful, marvelous, indescribable peace will return, like a river, flooding your heart and calming your nerves.

I’m wondering, have you read the verse which says, “Be kind to everyone who is kind to you. Be kind to the people you like. Be kind when you want to impress someone, or when there’s something in it for you”? No, you haven’t seen this verse in Scripture, but Paul wrote to Timothy,

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful (2 Timothy 2:24).

That’s my word of wisdom for the workplace today: Be kind to everyone.

In fact, we’ve put these words on a set of cards, designed to help you remember them or to pass them along to someone else who may need a word of wisdom for the day. You’ll find them ready for your use here.

Today it’s “Be kind to everyone.” I once witnessed a situation in which a Christian sister was obviously unkind to a person simply because she didn’t like that kind of person. Based on her prejudices and some bad experiences she had, she had classified a group of people as undesirable. And so, she was obviously unkind to this person.

My heart was hurt to see a Christian treat someone unkindly. Then I realized I probably do similar things all too often. I mean, it’s easy to be kind to people who seem to deserve our kindness. But the Bible says we are to be kind to everyone. That includes strangers, people who irritate us, people who are not kind to us—everyone includes everyone!

Once I was unkind to a clerk at a hotel who was not very efficient at her job. Her lack of efficiency inconvenienced me just a bit, and though I didn’t say anything, I’m sure the look on my face and my body language was most unkind.

How easy it would have been for me to say something kind to her, to make her feel a little more comfortable, to forget my minor inconvenience and try to help her a bit. The Holy Spirit hit me between the eyes as I walked away. I heard him say, “You had one chance to show her what Jesus is like, and you showed her what you are like.” Ouch! The Lord’s servant must be kind to everyone, even people who don’t do their jobs as well as they should.

Where do you often fail to be kind? Shore up this area with prayer and ask God to help you to be kind, as the servant of the Lord should be, to everyone.

Are you tired today? I have a word of wisdom for you. You can have these nuggets of wisdom on some cards we’ve prepared. Then you can use the cards to remind yourself of these important principles, or you may want to give some to others who are struggling with workplace issues.

Today’s wisdom for the workplace is: Remember being tired is inevitable, but if you’re tired for the wrong reasons, then you need to take some action.

First, let me assure you it’s okay to be tired. Jesus was often tired while he was here on earth. You remember when he fell asleep on the boat, and a terrible storm didn’t awaken him. He was tired. We read in John 4 he was tired from a long journey.

We know Jesus understands our tired bodies and minds because he experienced it while he took the form of man on earth. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and the limitations we face. Just knowing that helps me a lot.

But we need to determine if we’re tired for the wrong reasons. Have you been trying to be all things to all people lately? It’s exhausting—and you can never succeed. Perhaps you’ve taken on jobs God never intended you to do, and you’re tired from trying to do too much. Maybe you’re trying to do everything to total perfection. Perfectionists are usually very tired people, trying to prove something to themselves and to the world by being perfect all the time.

You may be tired because you’ve got your priorities confused. Someone has said, “There’s always time to do God’s will,” and I think it’s true God would never ask of us more than our bodies and minds can do without going into overload and burn-out. But when we confuse our priorities, it causes weariness and exhaustion.

Remember this important message from Isaiah:

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-32).

You may have a copy of this devotional as well as these cards giving these words of wisdom for the Workplace. You can use these cards to encourage yourself each day or pass them on to others who may need a word of wisdom. This is available here.

I want to give you some specific wisdom for the workplace. In fact, I want you to have a set of cards with these nuggets of wisdom which you can take to your job, use them for yourself, or even give to others as an encouraging word. You’ll find those here.

Here’s today’s wisdom for the workplace from Luke 12:15: Jesus said,

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed (Luke 12:15).

This greed problem is nothing new. And we certainly must watch out for the many kinds of greed. There’s greed for power, the drive to have authority and influence over other people. And greed for prestige and fame. Of course, greed for material possessions is very commonplace. Almost daily we hear of another scandal where greed for money has driven people to destroy their whole lives.

When you think about it, greed is pride. It is that desire within us to show the world who we are by our status in life, our possessions, or our fame. Greed is a direct result of the pride of life.

Greed is contagious. If you’re around people who have lots of things and who focus their life on getting more and more things, you’ll discover it’s very difficult not to be swept right along into their greedy mindset.

Greed is cancerous. It grows fast, and it consumes and destroys everything it touches. No wonder Jesus said we must be on our guard against all kinds of greed.

Jesus went on to say a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Greed can overtake us quickly and completely distort our priorities and our commitment to the Lord. Jesus said life is more than food or clothes; life is peace and contentment. Those can’t be bought; they are found only in Jesus.

Our wisdom for the workplace today is: Be on your guard today against the greed that surrounds you, especially in the working world. It wants to drag you right into its currents, but by God’s grace, you can be victorious.

We have seen how Jesus was such a great leader because he knew who he reported to, and he made sure he fulfilled his boss’s expectations. Also, he knew what his mission was, he stayed focused, and he didn’t try to jump through the expectation hoops of others. Jesus was always ready to celebrate, and that made him a great leader. Then one thing I really love about Jesus is he always had time for little people—every individual was important to him no matter his/her age, status, or position.

Now, let’s look at some additional examples of what made Jesus such a great leader.

Jesus was a great leader because he was willing to look foolish to others.

Do you realize great leaders throughout history have been willing to take risks with their public image, and they didn’t spend their time worrying about what people would think of them? Anytime a person is primarily focused on what others think, they are handicapped because they lose the freedom to do what they think is the right and best thing to do.

How do you think Noah looked when he started building the ark? Pretty foolish and stupid, don’t you imagine? And when Moses told Pharoah to let his people go, he had to look like an insane person, approaching Pharoah with his threats. The great prophet Elijah had to ask a poor widow for food, which some would have considered very demeaning. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was willing not only to look foolish, but also to lose her good reputation in order to bear the Son of God. Had any of these people been primarily concerned with what the neighbors would say, none would have accomplished their God-given purpose.

Jesus was not concerned about what people would think. For example, he cried over a city that was not repentant—a grown man crying. But he didn’t care what people thought. His heart broke for those people. He rode a donkey in a parade, a lowly beast. Most leaders would have demanded more appropriate transportation, but he sought out a simple donkey to ride on.

And, of course, the ultimate example was he was willing to go through a shameful trial and die on a cursed cross, enduring the scorn and abuse of his enemies, to accomplish God’s plan.

We need to consider this as we approach our jobs and duties. Are you overly concerned with what people will say or think? If so, you may miss the opportunities and blessings God has for you. It’s impossible to please everyone anyway, but when we focus on pleasing God, we will please more people as well.

Jesus was a great leader because he was willing to do the difficult work.

Do you remember the time Jesus determined to go to Jerusalem for Passover? His disciples did not want him to go there because they knew there were people plotting to kill him, just waiting for him to arrive. They wanted to spare him that difficulty, but he knew he was supposed to be there, and he went.

Also, he was willing to say no to people when necessary, though I’m sure he didn’t enjoy disappointing people. Often the disciples wanted him to do one thing when he knew he should do another, and he would tell them “no.” He even said “no” to his mother and brothers who wanted to interrupt his teaching to speak to him.

Jesus also said “no” to himself. Satan tried to tempt him with very enticing promises, and he had the wisdom to say “no” to the easy way out. He knew he had to discipline himself to do what God wanted him to do.

Then there was Gethsemane, where Jesus came face to face with the most difficult thing he would ever do: Drink the cup of death and sin that was necessary to pay the price of redemption. None of us can even imagine how hard that was to do—to become sin for us even though he had never sinned. But he did the difficult thing because it was the right thing to do.

If you and I are ever going to be effective leaders, we must be willing to do the hardest and most difficult work. Often people see those in leadership as having it easy but from my experience, a true leader is one who is willing to do what no one else wants to do.

Someone has defined a professional as a person who does things even when she or he does not feel like doing them. That’s another way to define discipline. And believe me, effective leadership demands a disciplined life.

Jesus was a great leader because he respected and empowered women and allowed them to use their gifts and abilities.

In a culture which truly devalued women and their contributions, which saw them as servants of men or worse, possessions of men, Jesus went out of his way to show his respect for women. Let me give you just a few examples.

After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to a woman and entrusted to her the important and prestigious responsibility of telling the disciples he was risen. The men were very skeptical about this word; one even demanded he put his fingers in Jesus’ wounds before he believed. But Mary Magdalene believed and gladly told everyone, “He’s alive!”

Before Jesus was born as a man, his Father entrusted to a young maiden the greatest responsibility and highest honor ever given to any woman—to bear in her body the Son of God, and she kept it to herself until the appropriate time.

We read in Luke 8, women followed Jesus and the disciples as they proclaimed the good news, right along with the twelve disciples. In fact, these women were helping to support Jesus and his group out of their own pockets.

Then we see how he treated the Samaritan woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the woman who touched his garment for healing, the Syrophoenician woman who begged for his healing touch on her daughter. With great tenderness and respect, he responded to women with equality and care. And he accepted and enlisted their help in telling others about him.

Women are uniquely gifted by God in many areas, and to ignore or fail to enlist their help and energy is to make a big mistake. Pilot ignored his wife’s intuition about Jesus to his great harm. Jesus was a great leader because he used the gifts and enlisted the help of women without discrimination. He had created them equal, and he treated them as equals.

Another reason Jesus was a great leader was he trained his replacements.

How many organizations, companies, and churches can you think of who faltered and/or failed after a great leader left, died, or retired? The reason was the leader did not train his or her replacement, so when that person left the scene, the organization was at an extreme disadvantage.

Jesus was eager to and intent on training those who would carry on after he was gone. He was constantly teaching, telling, explaining, and preparing his disciples to do the job after him. In fact, he told them they would do even greater things than he had done.

Jesus didn’t have any problem with his ego. He wasn’t threatened by others nor fearful of putting someone on his team who had leadership skills. Just the opposite—he wanted those best qualified and capable of fulfilling his mission for the group, so he trained them well. And that small group went on to change the course of history by spreading the gospel.

If you’re a leader, have you thought about training your replacement? It’s another sign of a good and secure leader—like Jesus.

In closing this message on what made Jesus such a great leader, I want to remind you of how awesome Jesus was in dealing with people. He had the best people skills ever. Let me briefly point out just a few examples.

Ask yourself, how are your people skills? Do you communicate a vision to people? Are you willing to reward those who earn it? Do you give people a second chance? Are you a servant leader? And do you truly care for others? Those are some of the attributes that made Jesus so special.

As believers, that should be true of us because we should have the same heart for people that Jesus did. Do you need better people skills? I know I do. Let’s make it a matter of daily prayer and ask God to make us more like Jesus in relating to the people in our lives.

Presented by Julie Busteed

I’ve been looking at what it takes to build healthy relationships. And I’ve saved the best for last: forgiveness. This verse in Matthew always catches me short.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15).

I need to take to heart this command!

Relationships are living, growing things because they involve people who are growing and changing. And because you are human, there will be times when words are spoken or actions are taken that hurt someone in the relationship. You and I need to forgive others and also ask for forgiveness—things that are not easy to do, except through the power of the Holy Spirit.

But wait—there’s more! Jesus said we should love our enemies.

I look at Jesus’ example of laying down his life for you and me. When he was on the cross, suffering, he forgave those who crucified him.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).

That’s the ultimate in forgiving your enemies. It really seems quite impossible, doesn’t it? Jesus was fully God and fully man. But I don’t think that excuses you or me to forgive even our enemies.

Corrie Ten Boom and her family helped many Jewish people escape the Nazi’s in WW2. As a result, she was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. She survived and wrote books and spoke about her experience. Corrie recounts the following as she was speaking about forgiveness at a church in Munich in 1947:

Afterward, I saw him—a man moving toward me through the crowd. I recognized him instantly: a former guard from Ravensbrück, the concentration camp where my sister Betsie and I had been imprisoned for hiding Jews.

He approached me, now dressed in civilian clothes, and said, “A fine message, Fräulein. How good it is to know that all our sins are at the bottom of the sea.” Then he extended his hand. “I was a guard at Ravensbrück. I’ve become a Christian, and I know God has forgiven me, but I would like to hear it from you. Will you forgive me?”

I stood frozen, remembering Betsie’s suffering and death. Forgive him? I could not. Yet I knew Jesus’ words: “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive yours.” Forgiveness is not a feeling—it’s an act of the will.

So, I prayed silently, “Jesus, help me. I can lift my hand; You supply the feeling.” Mechanically, I reached out—and as I did, a current seemed to pass from my shoulder to our joined hands. A warmth filled my heart.

“I forgive you, brother,” I said, “with all my heart.”

In that moment, I felt God’s love more deeply than ever before.[1]

May you and I be obedient and lift our hands and trust God to fill us with his love.

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[1] Corrie Ten Boom, Sherrill, E., & Sherrill, J. L. (2008). The hiding place. Chosen Books.