“The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12 NLT). Jesus not only taught, but modeled the art of servant leadership. He showed that true greatness was not about exalting oneself, but being humble enough to wash another’s
“I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink” (Exodus 17:6 NLT). The people of Israel complained of thirst, threatening to stone Moses for leading them into the desert. Moses brought their complaint to the Lord
“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land” (Exodus 13:17 NLT). Why did God lead the Israelites the long way around to the Promised Land? He wanted to give them time
“Each Passover lamb must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of its meat outside, and do not break any of its bones” (Exodus 12:46 NLT). Among the many instructions God gave Moses concerning the Passover Lamb was that it must be a male without blemish and that they were not to “break
“But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13 NLT). The Lord instructed Moses to have each household choose a male lamb without blemish to sacrifice and to spread its blood on their doorposts,
“But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then” (Matthew 19:30 NLT). After a rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what good thing he must do to have eternal life, the Lord told him to sell his possessions, give
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need” (Psalm 23:1 NLT). David, the shepherd-king, knew how sheep trusted their shepherd with every need. As he considered his relationship with God, he wrote of his total dependence and contentment to the Lord as his shepherd. He said that having the Lord as his
‘Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”’ (Exodus 4:2 NLT). When Moses made excuses about his inability to answer God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, God asked, “What’s in your hand?” Moses replied dismissively, “A shepherd’s staff.” It was not a sword to fight with, nor a priceless
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?” (Psalm 22:1 NLT). This Davidic psalm begins with the question that Jesus cried out from the cross. The NLT chose the word “abandoned” in place of “forsaken,” but it has the same meaning. David surely
“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be