Advent – the call to service

Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant

At Christmas we remember that Jesus was happy to take on the most menial of tasks – the work of a servant or a slave (the Greek word is the same for both). HHI works with a number of people in both Zambia and India who are happy to do the same – to become the servant of others. Perhaps the best example of this is Shibu, who works tirelessly on the main teaching hospital in Trivandrum (Thiruvanathapuram), serving people who are of no importance in the world’s eyes – often “unknowns” from other areas who have come to Trivandrum in search of work and have been injured in some way – feeding them, tending their wounds and operation sites, in some cases dealing with the consequences of their incontinence – with total dedication and good humour. And for this remarkable work he receives no pay, just his board and lodging and other expenses.

Prayer

Father, we praise you that Jesus was prepared to be the servant of all. We pray that you will cure us of the pride and concern about self that so often hold us back from service like that, and inspire us to serve others in whatever way we can. In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen