Do you think of yourself as a leader? Assigned leadership positions are generally obvious in government, the military, commerce, and even in the church. But not all leadership is provided by those with titles and offices, and everyone provides leadership in some way even if they don’t have people reporting to them. As my servant you have areas of responsibility and you do well to take them seriously. A Centurion understood authority not because he had authority over others but because he was under authority himself. Everyone is under my authority, but I have delegated authority to you in the tasks I have assigned to you.

Does it disturb you to read in my word that you are called to pick up your cross and carry it? I had my own to carry, and my cross was unique in relation to the one you are asked to carry, but as you may recall from the story, even I had help in carrying my cross. How much more will you receive all the assistance you need in this difficult task. The purpose of your cross is not to burden or oppress you. It is to remind you of your destiny for you too will be resurrected. And the assistance that you get in carrying your cross is to remind you that you are not independent or sufficient in yourself.

How do you evaluate your fellow believers? Is church attendance the primary standard? You are not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together, and my church is correctly referred to as my body. These things are made clear in the epistles. But other things are given more emphasis in the gospels. The message of loving your neighbor is emphasized throughout the Bible. Church attendance is highly regarded by those who attend church, but loving your neighbor is highly regarded by everyone. Church attendance is important. If you go there and learn to love your neighbor that is even more important.

My disciples objected when I wanted to wash their feet. I told them that if we did it now they would understand it later. Have you ever done things intuitively that you didn’t understand conceptually until later? The paradigm of your age is rationalism, by which you figure everything out before you act. You have done this, but you have also seen how it doesn’t always work. Do you think yourself into a new way of living? Who has ever done this successfully? But if you follow me in obedience, even with regard to things you don’t yet understand, you can live yourself into a new way of thinking.