Servant Leadership

Philipians 2:4-8 (The Message).
Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.  He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.  Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!  Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.

Matthew 26:39 (The Message)
Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”

Ephesians 6:7 (The Message)
And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God.

I saw a quote the other day (posted on Face book) from an author I'd never heard of.

It read....
"Continue to give Him all that is yours; He will continue to give you all that is His.
Continue to wait upon Him; He will continue to be faithful to you.
Continue to seek His highest; He will continue to give you His best".
- Roy Lessin.

I particularly like the last line as I was reminded of our (Launceston Citadel Band) Motto - "My best for the Highest".

I started to search for the author on Google and found many quotes and readings and I was led to a section under "Servant Leadership".

It was a timely reminder that I'm not much of a leader if I only seek my glory, and it's my way, and no one else matters.

How ineffective can I (we) be if we get this wrong ??
How effective can I (we) be if we get this right ??

I completed another book (yes that makes 2 since 1985) called "Darkest England and the way back in" (Gary Bishop) that speaks of packing up and going to the heart of where the need is and being part of a that community.  Through powerful stories, Biblical thought and personal reflection ‘Darkest England’ takes us on a journey which calls us to hear again the implicit call of scripture for the church to spend itself on behalf of the poor.

I thought immediately of the verse 4 of the song "The Servant king" and thought it would be good to share it.



1. From heaven you came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served, but to serve
And give your life, that we might live

Chorus:
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow him
To bring our lives as daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King


2. There in the garden of tears
My heavy load, he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
Yet not my will but yours he said

3. Come see his hands and his feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered

4. So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone him
Each others needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving

Chorus:
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow him
To bring our lives as daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.


Lord, may others see you in me. 
May my life be spent in serving you and in serving others. 
Help me to be willing to serve and to be humble in my dealings with your people - putting your glory before mine.
Amen!