“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (Mathew 20:16)
Once at a certain function a high table had been set for one renown Archbishop who had just presided over an event. However, as he was being marched to his seat at the head of the table, the Arch Bishop stepped back and took a seat at the very end of the table. The organizers panicked. His place was at the head; the Arch Bishop had to be pulled off the small chair, and dragged to take his seat at the head of the table where there was indeed a big chair reserved for him.
Contrast his reluctance with a now familiar scene on many roads, where top officials habitually demand right of way, pushing others into the trenches. In many public organizations and even churches seniority means perks like a private parking space and your name at the top of the allowance list, regardless of one’s contribution. Titles are habitually thrown around as though to put others in the corner.
The Jesus way is quite different. During the last supper, “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 13:4- 5). One may feel the shock of the disciples whose notion of a leader was anything but bending down to clean their dirty feet.
Jesus noticed the confusion, and to clarify he pointed out to them, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (vv 13- 15).
Perhaps you have heard of a term called “servant leadership”. In this case we see a radical view of what leadership means. It is not to put self-first; but those we serve first! It is not to seek one’s interest first; but those we serve first! Shocking? Of course! After all culturally many of us have been raised with notion that a leader is supposed to be served, and not the other way round.
Yet imagine a case were our leaders at home, in local councils, organizations, churches and government, put others interest first. What a difference it would make. May we pray for such leaders, as we take after Jesus in practicing servant leadership.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you have taught us to serve others first, may we practice servant leadership in our daily walk of life, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ!
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
