Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
“The work is God’s work, the poor are God’s poor. Put yourself completely under the influence of Jesus, so that He may think His thoughts in your mind, do His work through your hands, for you will be all-powerful with Him to strengthen you… Make sure that you let God’s grace work in your souls by accepting whatever He gives you, and giving Him whatever He takes from you. True holiness consists in doing God’s will with a smile.”
Mother Teresa in A Gift for God (New York: Harper Collins, 1996) 37. When this posts I will be somewhere over the Atlantic between Newark, New Jersey and Johannesburg, South Africa.
There may be no better person to approach for inspiration to serve the poor than Mother Teresa. I confess, in reading excerpts from her today, I was so humbled by her wisdom, learned from the poor.
As I venture to poor countries (Malawi, Mozambique, and Eswatini) serving two-by-two with Chris Maphosa from Zimbabwe, I am asking Jesus to give me His mind and pour out His grace to work in my life to learn.
I want to be “under the influence of Jesus.” Everyone sees me as the teacher, so I want Him to strengthen me to do my part. But I pray for grace to accept whatever He gives or takes from me and to do it with a smile.
God help me do this with grace and generosity in Africa over the next two weeks, and God help you do it wherever He has placed you for the good of those around you I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.