John Stanko

"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist" - John 13:3-4.

Jesus knew who He was and that He had power and control over 'all things.' So what did He do as a result? He stripped down to His 'work clothes,' took a towel, and washed the feet of His disciples. He used His power to serve the practical needs of others, in this instance washing their dirty feet that had accumulated dust from walking life's messy roads. Leaders have power, but they know that the power can inflate their ego, so they look for opportunities to humble themselves, especially by serving others. And serving others isn't just being polite; it's doing for others what they can't do or know how to do for themselves.

LEADERSHIP STEP: If you're not yet a leader, write out today some of the things you will do for others with your leadership authority and power when you receive them. If you are a leader, examine how effectively you serve others. List all the instances where you're using your power to serve other's needs. If your list isn't adequate to suit you, then devote some creative time to think of practical things you can do to better serve others from your position of authority.