By Jared Sloan of Independence, Missouri, USA

…whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.

When I was a child, grocery stores in our city gave customers trading stamps based on the amount they spent on groceries. The more money the person spent on their groceries, the more stamps they received. The customer then pasted the stamps in a trading stamp booklet, and when the booklet was full, it could be traded in for merchandise. One or two booklets could be redeemed for less expensive items, but it could take dozens of booklets for more expensive items. Since trading stamps were an incentive or reward for shopping at that grocery store, each grocery store chain had a different brand of trading stamps.

James and John asked Jesus to give them a special reward. They asked Jesus for the honor of sitting on either side of him in his glory. Jesus quickly let them know that what they were asking for was much more complicated than they understood or were prepared for. Unfortunately, the other ten disciples heard what James and John had asked for and became angry. Jesus turned the situation into a teaching moment. Jesus said that whoever wanted to be great must serve the rest and whoever wanted to be first must be servant to all the others.

It’s a hard lesson and skill to learn to lead by serving. By our very nature, it seems, we look at our fellow human beings as a source of our self-esteem. We want to be first, great, recognized, and rewarded by our friends, coworkers, family, and sometimes the larger community. Even in our Christian discipleship the thirst for fame and notoriety can drive us to take on leadership roles. Reward and recognition are not the reasons we become servant leaders. We become servant leaders because we understand that God’s grace and generosity to us has been so profound that we choose to give our lives back in service. Service is not for the reward we will get; service is response to what God has already given.

Prayer Phrase

“What can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Spiritual Practice

Breathe Hope

Find a quiet space where you can sit without distractions. Light a candle. Take a few deep breaths, allowing your body to relax with each exhale. As you breathe, let go of any tension or worries you may be holding onto. Take notice of the way the flame dances and flickers, casting light and shadow in the room. As you observe the flame, imagine it symbolizing the spark of hope within you. With each breath, imagine the flame growing brighter and stronger. Visualize this light spreading throughout your body, filling you with a sense of hope and positivity. Take a moment to express gratitude for the blessings in your life, no matter how small they may seem.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.