“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;” – 1 Peter 5:2

While serving with Operation Mobilization in India in 1967, tuberculosis forced Doug Nichols into a sanitarium for several months. He did not yet speak the language, but he tried to give Christian literature written in their language to the patients, doctors, and nurses. Everyone politely refused.

One morning Doug noticed one of the older and sicker patients across the aisle trying to get out of bed. He would sit up on the edge of the bed and try to stand, but in weakness would fall back into bed. He finally fell back into bed exhausted and began to cry softly. The man had tried to get up and walk to the bathroom. The stench in the ward was awful. Other patients yelled insults at the man. Angry nurses moved him roughly from side to side as they cleaned up the mess. One nurse even slapped him. The old man curled into a ball and wept.

Doug describes what happened the next night: “I don’t like bad smells, and I didn’t want to become involved, but I got out of bed and went over to him. When I touched his shoulder, his eyes opened wide with fear. I smiled, put my arms under him, and picked him up. He was very light due to old age and advanced TB. I carried him to the washroom, which was just a filthy, small room with a hole in the floor. I stood behind him with my arms under his armpits as he took care of himself. After he finished, I picked him up, and carried him back to his bed. As I laid him down, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said something I couldn’t understand.

The next morning another patient woke me and handed me a steaming cup of tea. He motioned with his hands that he wanted a tract. As the sun rose, other patients approached and indicated they also wanted the booklets I had tried to distribute before. Throughout the day nurses, interns, and doctors asked for literature.

Weeks later an evangelist who spoke the language visited me, and as he talked to others he discovered that several had put their trust in Christ as Savior as a result of reading the literature. What did it take to reach these people with the gospel? It wasn’t health, the ability to speak their language, or a persuasive talk. I simply took a trip to the bathroom.”

No matter where the Lord places us, we need to be eager to serve others so they may know Christ. Today in prayer, ask the Lord where does He want you to serve and then eagerly serve others for Christ’s glory.

“Show me the way, not to fortune and fame, Not how to win laurels or praise for my name. But Show Me The Way to spread “The Great Story” that ‘Thine is The Kingdom and Power and Glory.'” – Helen Steiner Rice

God’s Word: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2003, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN THE BOOKS OF PETER pkennedy@devotional.com