“Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you.
As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.”
– Hebrews 13:7

“What does a leader look like?” That was the question I asked the team as we began our morning practice session. The responses I received were typical—“vocal, passionate, hard worker, and a good teammate”, they replied. These are all good answers, but is there more? We went on to talk about trust, loyalty, and love for your teammates. Now we’re getting somewhere I thought to myself. I shared a quote from 2-time Super Bowl Champion, Peyton Manning, who said, “the most valuable player is the one who makes the most players valuable.” “Yeah Coach”, someone blurted out, “a leader makes everyone around him better.”  As we prepared to pray, I reminded them that to lead, you must first be willing to serve.

We don’t need to look any further than Jesus, to see what true leadership looks like. Jesus cared about the physical needs of his people. He didn’t  look for personal recognition, rather always sought the will of His Heavenly Father. Jesus was prayerful, passionate, and yet gentle. He had the ability to bring out the best in people and expose the worst. Jesus was confident in His calling and the perfect model of servant-leadership. He added value to the lives of those around Him, and the lives of these people were changed for eternity.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Mold me, shape me, and bend me into the person you desire me to be. Help me to see the needs of others first. Amen.