“Fix these words of mine in your hearts . . . tie them as symbols on your hands” Deuteronomy 11:18
Friday, October 23

Find Your Own Calcutta

Today's Verse

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3I thank my God every time I remember you.4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:1-11 · BSB

The Devotion

When we get saved, we are given a purpose: serve others. Share the Gospel. Live it out by being a servant like Jesus. This means that there are no small things when it comes to service. The world may never recognize our service or know our names, but that’s ok, because God does.

As I write this note, two ladies in our church are watching our toddlers while my wife is out of town. Their service is just as great as writing this book.

President John F. Kennedy challenged America to put a man on the moon. According to a popular legend, during a tour of NASA headquarters in 1961, President Kennedy encountered a janitor mopping the floors.

“Why are you working so late?” Kennedy asked.

“Mr President,” the janitor responded, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.”

Whether it’s mopping a floor or taking out the trash, everything we do for God makes an eternal difference. Nothing we do in His name is ever wasted. Benjamin Franklin wisely said “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for someone else.”

Mother Teresa was known worldwide for serving “the least of these.” As a young nun in Calcutta, India, she left her safe convent school to live and serve in the slums. Her passion was serving people who were afflicted with leprosy and dying alone in the streets.

The ministry she founded, Missionaries of Charity, now has a global impact in serving others, helping the poor, those without homes, and those suffering from AIDS.

Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, among numerous other awards, honors, and honorary degrees. She traveled and spoke all over the world about the need to help the poor. Her listeners would often be motivated to help the poor, sick, and downtrodden in Calcutta. Over and over, she got the same request: “I want to help the poor and the lepers.  Please tell me how I can join you and work with you in Calcutta.”

Mother Teresa always responded with four simple words:  “Find your own Calcutta.”

Where will you serve?

A Prayer for Today

Lord, I love you. Help me be faithful in the "little things" today, for it's all done to You, for You, and with You forever. In Your name, amen.

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