Esther 6:6  So Haman came in, and the king said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” (NLT)

Esther 10:3  Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants. (NLT)

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Here’s one thing 
Truer than true
Someone somewhere is
More important than you

Some people think leadership is about power. Others demonstrate how leadership comes with a towel, a basin, and knee pads as basic equipment.

Great leaders serve. 

Leaders, like Haman, who think it’s all about them, all too often (and maybe not often enough) end up on the business end of a sharp stick. 

Leaders like Mordecai, who seek the highest good for others, end up next to the most powerful person in the country, administering well-targeted grace, mercy, and kindness. 

Jesus came among us as one who serves. He commissioned us to lead like he did. Leading like Jesus begins with soiled feet. Someone has to do the dirty work, and you and I are Someone. 

Greatness is not best demonstrated by one of those line-drawing pictures on the front page of The Wall Street Journal. It is not best demonstrated as the lead story on Entertainment Tonight. It is not best demonstrated by a photo of powerful people gathered to talk about powerful things. 

Greatness is demonstrated by doing what must be done to bring hope, healing, and harmony. It is what must be done to the lost, the last, and the least. It is what must be done when no one sees, no one knows, and no one tells. 

This old world needs more Jesus-like leaders. I wonder if Amazon has a Prime deal on towels and basins? 

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I will lead like Jesus.

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Our Father, leadership is not about me. Leadership is about serving those closest to us, those nearby, those we meet along the way, and those you send us to near and far. Leadership begins with simple necessities. Leadership serves according to the need of the moment. Deploy us as you see fit. Employ us for cleaning up messes and setting things in order. Use us to distribute kindness and relief, hope and comfort, help and restoration. Use us in whatever manner you see fit to build a better world. Use us to extend your Kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.