READ: John 13:1-20
Bluntly, living in ancient Judea was a little gross. People walked around in dirt and mud all day wearing little pieces of leather strapped to their feet. These weren’t work boots; they were mere flip flops. Thus, people’s feet got really nasty. It was disgusting to look at someone’s feet back then, let alone touch them. Jesus mirrored mind-blowing leadership by washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-20). This would be like the Queen of England scrubbing toilets in Buckingham Palace— it’s unthinkable. It didn’t phase Jesus, though. He wanted to demonstrate what it means to lead by saying, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant to all” (Mark 9:25).
You are in leadership. Whether it’s in your family, on your team, or in your classroom, you are in a position of influence. You want to leverage that influence to represent Jesus, the ultimate example of sacrifice and servanthood. Good leaders put others before themselves. Here are some small actions of service that have big impacts:
Show genuine interest in others. Listen when they talk, don’t speak over them, and empathize with their emotions.
Go above and beyond to bless your servers. Leave big tips, be over-the-top friendly, and go out of your way to bless them.
Donate. Give to local charities and nonprofits. Living generously with your finances actively fights greed, pride, and an unhealthy relationship with money.
Show up for someone in need. Visit a nursing home. Call your extended family. Sit down with that kid who is having lunch alone. Speak to someone who seems sad.