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Topic: Service (12/21/03)
TITLE: The Heart of Service By Allen Clupny 12/26/03 |
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They did not know each other; they lived in different times and an ocean apart. Yet they had the same heart and chose to serve struggling souls. This man and woman were imprisoned for different reasons, but neither harbored resentment toward their oppressor. Both suffered under man’s cruelty, but released their bitterness instead of indulge it. In their own realm of influence and unique way, they sought to serve others after their release. Booker T. Washington reached out to the freed Negro in this republic’s embattled southern states while Corrie Ten Boom taught from prison to pulpit.
Neither sought leadership, yet to serve, each walked the razors edge with willing hearts and brought hope to the lost. In doing so, they led by example.
Corrie became a gentle evangelist of the Christian faith, teaching and preaching to any heart that would listen to her testimony. She did not embellish her past as a prisoner to gain status when free. Rather she used her freedom to lift those burdened by their past.
Booker realized opportunity stood in front rather than behind him. More importantly, he knew that if he could move beyond his physical and spiritual bondage, so could others who suffered like him. So he taught freed slaves to take care of what they could and let the providence of God take care of the rest.
Corrie Ten Boom and Booker T. Washington had found the heart of service in God’s forgiveness.