Day 23 — The Leader Who Serves

“But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.”

— Luke 22:26 (BSB)

On the night before Jesus died, His disciples were arguing about something embarrassing: which of them was the greatest.

Can you believe it? Jesus was about to go to the cross, and His friends were fighting over who was the most important!

So Jesus explained how things work in God’s kingdom. In the world, He said, leaders like to boss people around and show off their power. “But you shall not be like them.” In God’s kingdom, “the one who leads [should be] like the one who serves.”

Then Jesus pointed to Himself. “I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). That very night, He had washed their feet.

Some girls think leading means being in charge, getting your way, or being the one everybody listens to. And in friend groups, sometimes the “leader” is the girl who decides who’s in and who’s out, who’s cool and who’s not.

But that’s not how Jesus leads, and it’s not how He wants you to lead.

A leader who serves:

• Thinks about what’s good for everyone, not just for herself.
• Includes others, especially girls who get left out.
• Listens to other people’s ideas.
• Does the jobs nobody else wants, like cleaning up or setting up.
• Encourages others and helps them shine.
• Admits when she’s wrong.
• Uses her influence to help, not to hurt.

If you’re a girl other girls look up to, that’s a gift from God, and a responsibility. You can use it to make your group kinder, more welcoming and closer to God.

And if you don’t feel like a leader, remember this: serving is leading. When you serve others, you’re leading the way Jesus did.

Think about it: Who’s a “leader” in your friend group? Does she lead like the world or like Jesus? How do you lead?

Try this: Use whatever influence you have today to serve: include someone, do a job no one wants, or help another girl shine.

Dear Jesus, You are the greatest, and yet You served. Help me lead like You, by serving others, not by bossing them around. Help me use my influence to include, encourage and help. In Your name, Amen.