What Jesus Did! 'How to Lead' — Matthew 23:11-12

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

[Jesus continued talking to the crowds and his disciples:] "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

Key Thought

Humility is a greatly under-emphasized quality among humans. Some don't know what it means, don't know how to appreciate it, don't know how to love with it, and aren't all that sure they want to have it.

Culturally we're much more drawn to the energetic, dynamic, charismatic, crowd-drawing leader. That's who gets the headlines and the attention. But if we listen closely and watch carefully, we can see in Jesus someone who is humble, but strong; humble, but charismatic; humble, but crowd drawing; humble, but dynamic.

You see, the same Lord who stilled the storm and spoke to the crowds is the Lord who washed feet and died on a cross and held babies in his arms when it wasn't politically correct.

So maybe we need to rethink humility and live it like Jesus did. Come to think of it, that's exactly what we need to do; no "maybe" about it! Let's be like Jesus, and the humility comes along with the character!

Today's Prayer

O gracious God, how and why you chose to become one of us in Jesus is too overwhelming to even fully contemplate. Yet your humility in redeeming us, Jesus' humility in saving us, makes such a deep impression on my heart that I want to be more like him. And on those days, dear Father, when I am too proud of myself, humble me gently by reminding me of Jesus' willing service to redeem me and bring me into your family. In the name of Christ the Lord, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

9 Related Resources by Heartlight

God's Good News Always Begins with a Servant
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Servant of God, I love the way Mark begins his good news story about Me:This is the beginning of the good news of Jesus, the Anointed One, the....."
Lord of the Banquet
Article by Mart Waltenbaugh
What makes a man truly great? What can a husband do to bless his wife on Thanksgiving?
Who Gets the Credit?
Article by Rubel Shelly
Does it matter who gets teh credit? It's amazing what happens when no one worries about who gets the credit.
Serving Grace
Article by Phil Ware
How do you get out of your We have to act ourselves into a better way of feeling rather than think ourselves into a better way of acting!
See All 9 Related Resources about Matthew 23:11-12

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 23:11-12 NLT — [Jesus continued talking to the crowds and his disciples:] "The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'God Uses Wounded Healers' (Acts 7:35-38)
"[Stephen reminded his adversaries of the kind of leader Moses was:] "So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 19:21
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'God Our Strength' (Ps. 81:1-3)
"Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Blow the ram's horn at new....."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'The Spirit Gives Life' (Ro. 8:10)
"And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!