Weekly Devotional: Leading Like Jesus

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Read time 8 minutes

Taylin Phillips

Published on Aug 2, 2024

Leadership doesn’t have to be confusing; Jesus shows us the way. True leadership doesn’t start with skills and knowledge — but with character and integrity. Jesus took a path not many of us choose to take. He chose to be the role model of what servant leadership looks like. A life of faith and a humble spirit make you a leader worth following. By embracing the heart of Jesus, you can positively impact those around you. Rely on the Lord and you will see lives transformed, beginning with your own.

In This Article:

Leading With Humility
Leading With Love
Jesus Was Accountable
Jesus Was Relational
Jesus Was Teachable

Leading With Humility

To serve others, the Son of God made the decision to be humble. He gave up his divine status for our benefit rather than using it to his own profit. What a surprise! Death, salvation, obedience, service and humility. As his followers, we are called to emulate Jesus' humility.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5:13ESV

What Is Humility?

Humility, first, is a downward disposition of the soul. Scripture refers to it as a lowly spirit. Proverbs 29:23 states, “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” God likewise declares through his prophet, “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,” (Isa. 57:15). Sadly, the exact opposite was what characterized the nation of Israel in the wilderness. They perished under God’s judgment because “their [collective] heart was lifted up” (Hos. 13:6). The humble heart is one that is not lifted with the illusion of self-sufficiency and the aim of self-glory.

A popular notion of humility is that it entails forgetting about ourselves. Instead, humility is the internal frame of heart that results from seeing ourselves as we really are. The problem of pride is not that it sees the self, but that it sees the self wrongly. Humility is putting the self in its proper place before the glory of God. As John Calvin famously argued in the opening of his Institutes, “Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God’s majesty.”¹

Food for thought: We are loved by the Lord to love for the Lord.

Scripture

Here are some verses that give context on humility:

John 15:13
1 John 4:16
1 Corinthians 13:4
John 13:34

Leading With Love

Jesus was love and he modeled love. He extended compassionate love to sinners who were aware of their sin but unaware of God’s forgiveness. He also dished out tough love to the religious establishment who were unaware of their sin, but expecting God’s approval. Christ’s love was holistic. He fed and healed bodies and he healed the brokenhearted by forgiving their sin and teaching them how to follow him.

The first job of leadership is to love people. Leadership without love is manipulation.²

Rick Warren

We are called by Christ to love with a love not of this world. It is a love that can only be explained by an encounter with almighty God. His transforming power positions his disciple to love on his behalf. The parting words of our Savior presented a new, radical love language for his disciples, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another,” (John 13:34). Jesus’s command is the best motivation for leaders to love well! So, show God’s love by helping others and spread God’s love by speaking to others in the name of Jesus.

Additionally, a loving leader learns patience. Patience has a calming effect on everyone under its influence. Impatience does just the opposite. A person huffs and puffs until everyone knows he’s unhappy, for not getting his way. Thankfully, love lengthens the fuse of patience.

Jesus Was Accountable

Jesus was accountable to his Heavenly Father. Under the pressure and pain of his humanity, he asked for an alternative, knowing that his Father’s way was the only way. It is liberating to realize that we can seek a way out, yet still accept God’s will as the best path. The burden of the cross was not removed, but an angel of the Lord came to strengthen Jesus to fulfill God’s will. Accountability to his Heavenly Father’s will was paramount to Christ, and it should be the same for all who follow him. In prayer, God aligns our will with his, leading us to obedience for his greater good.

What Is Accountability?

When we give others permission to stick their noses into our business, to ask the hard questions, and to call us out when our behavior does not match what we say we believe, we are being accountable. Trusted friends who love us should love us enough to question our motives and move us closer to the heart of Christ. If your spouse’s behavior is concerning you, and you feel comfortable to discuss it — that is an example of accountability.

The goal is not just to keep us from foolish decisions, but to grow us in wise decision making. Good questions help us examine our hearts.

12 Accountability Questions

Part of being accountable is to go through and answering some question that help with rooting out problems that may occur, but also give you the perspective and incite the bible can provide.

Why do you want to … (change your job, leave your church, go into debt, etc.)?
How does the Bible address this issue?
What’s best for your family, your faith, and your friends?
Does this decision align with your life purpose and long-term goals?
Are there any of your actions or attitudes you would not want posted on social media?
Are you sure you want to do this? Have you adequately prayed about this decision and thought through its implications?
Are you reacting out of anger and fear, or responding out of forgiveness and faith?
What advice would you give someone else in your situation?
Is this the story you want to write for your life and later have talked about you?
What would Jesus do?

Surround yourself with those who will tell you the truth in love. Find objective friends whose goal is for you to follow God’s will for your life. Accountability is the Lord’s instrument to protect you from yourself and from the penalty of poor decision making. We all make mistakes, but accountability minimizes them. The wise leader embraces accountability.

Food for thought: Accountable leaders take the time to develop plans and work them.

Scripture

Here are some verses that give context on accountability:

Romans 14:12
Luke 22:41-43
1 Kings 12:13-14

Jesus Was Relational

Jesus was relational because he loved people, especially those who didn't claim any religious devotion. He took his disciples to the house of Matthew, a despised man scorned by his fellow Jews for being a Roman tax collector. Jesus understood that the best way to get to know someone was to be with them where they lived. He invited his followers to join him so they could learn how to better love sinners. Christ was criticized by the religious elite for being too close to sinners, but our Lord was joyfully fulfilling his mission "to seek and to save the lost,” (Luke 19:10).

What Does It Take To Build Quality Relationships?

Food for thought: The quality of our lives is influenced by the quality of our relationships.

You probably desire quality relationships, but are you willing to invest in others, aiming to provide more value than you receive?

What does it mean to have a quality life? Is it good health? Harmony at home? A happy heart? Financial security? Freedom of speech and worship? A fulfilling career? Grateful and contented children? A meaningful marriage? A life of significance? Peace with God? Likely, a combination of these elements and more contribute to a life worth living, a quality life.

Relationships matter because the quality of our lives is heavily influenced by the quality of our relationships. Who we spend time with shapes who we become. If we spend time with those who are wise with their finances, we can become wise with our finances — if we pay attention. If we worship with those of great faith, we can grow in our faith. Our lives reflect our relationships.

So, how is your relational portfolio? Is it diversified with people who bring value to all aspects of your life? Are you intentional in investing time and interest in those who look to you for guidance? Quality of life flows not just from receiving wisdom but from giving wisdom. Wisdom works both ways for the good of relationships.

Food for thought: Our relational investments are our greatest assets.

Scripture

Here are some verses that give context on godly relationships.

Proverbs 13:20
Matthew 9:10-11
Luke 19:10

Jesus Was Teachable

Jesus relied on and learned from his heavenly Father. He continually sought his Father’s guidance, acknowledging that he could do nothing on his own, but only what he saw his Father doing. Trusting his Father completely, Jesus always sought divine direction before making significant decisions. Even amid pressing needs, he would retreat to the mountains to prayerfully seek his Father’s heart. How much more should we be desperately dependent on our heavenly Father?

What Does it Mean To Have a Teachable Heart?

Teachability is a key fruit of humility. When we keep an open heart to learn, we position ourselves to receive wisdom from God and others. Jesus values a teachable heart because it has the potential to learn and grasp the things of God. Such a heart is ready to receive truth and is characterized by asking more questions than giving answers.

A teachable heart recognizes and welcomes the truth. It examines, understands and applies truth, invigorating the spirit with a rush of spiritual adrenaline when truth meets an open mind and heart. While pride can cause stagnation in learning, a teachable heart continuously ascends the heights of truth, understanding and wisdom.

When the Lord finds a teachable person, He calls them wise. Wisdom comes from God, so a teachable heart learns his ways. The Holy Spirit nurtures teachability, as applied truth transforms behaviors and attitudes. This inside-out change makes us more like Christ: humble, bold, wise, holy, gracious, encouraging and faithful.

Change doesn’t come easily, even if we know God has our best interests in mind. But transformation is evident. Your character and behavior align more closely with the life of Christ. Your spouse and children notice the difference. You lead with patience and prayer instead of fear and intimidation. Cultivate a teachable heart by first elevating your honor and worship of Almighty God.

Scripture

Here are some verses that give context on having teachable character.

Psalms 25:4-5
John 5:19
Mark 12:32-34

Grand Canyon University is dedicated to helping all the members of the GCU community learn more about God’s Word. To learn more, view our Christian identity and mission. To explore more about spiritual life at GCU, browse through our other weekly devotionals. Complete the form on this page to get started on your Christian education at GCU.

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Taylin Phillips

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Calvin, J. (n.d.). The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Retrieved on Aug. 2, 2024.
Rob Campbell Leadership. (2024, April 26). Love the one you’re with. Retrieved on Aug. 2, 2024.

‌Approved by the local outreach coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Life on July 25, 2024.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.