A Servant’s Heart
During the 1800’s a large group of European pastors attended an international conference in a Bible school in the US of A. As per European custom, each one put his shoes outside his room. They thought hall servants of the dormitory would clean the shoes during the night. But there were no hall servants for they were in America.
The main speaker of the conference, who was walking at the dormitory halls that night, saw the shoes. Before the event, he already talked to some students who were there in the Bible College. But all he got were silence or pious excuses. So, he gathered up all the shoes. Alone in his room, he cleaned and polished the shoes.
It was supposed to be a secret. But his friend unexpectedly visited him in the room and discovered what he was doing.
The European delegates never knew who shined their shoes. The main speaker told no one. But word got around among the American delegates. And during the conference, men volunteered to shine the shoes in secret. (From the illustration database of the Biblical Studies Foundation).
Who was that main speaker with such a big, servant’s heart? He was no other than Dwight L. Moody, one of the most famous American evangelists. We learn at least two things from this glimpse into his life. First, a servant’s heart is contagious. It’s better caught than taught. Second, no one is too great to serve. In fact, the Lord Jesus Himself declared: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, NIV)
In the midst of this “dog-eats-dog,” “survival-of-the-fittest” and “look-out-for-number-one” world, we have to remember that God called us to serve. Jesus drew the line: “When people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.” (Mark 10:42a-44, The Message)
Brethren, we are called to serve!
The main speaker of the conference, who was walking at the dormitory halls that night, saw the shoes. Before the event, he already talked to some students who were there in the Bible College. But all he got were silence or pious excuses. So, he gathered up all the shoes. Alone in his room, he cleaned and polished the shoes.
It was supposed to be a secret. But his friend unexpectedly visited him in the room and discovered what he was doing.
The European delegates never knew who shined their shoes. The main speaker told no one. But word got around among the American delegates. And during the conference, men volunteered to shine the shoes in secret. (From the illustration database of the Biblical Studies Foundation).
Who was that main speaker with such a big, servant’s heart? He was no other than Dwight L. Moody, one of the most famous American evangelists. We learn at least two things from this glimpse into his life. First, a servant’s heart is contagious. It’s better caught than taught. Second, no one is too great to serve. In fact, the Lord Jesus Himself declared: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, NIV)
In the midst of this “dog-eats-dog,” “survival-of-the-fittest” and “look-out-for-number-one” world, we have to remember that God called us to serve. Jesus drew the line: “When people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.” (Mark 10:42a-44, The Message)
Brethren, we are called to serve!
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