Sunday, 11th December, 2016.
Bible reading: 1 Peter 5:1-4.
Memory Verse: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3(NKJV)
In 1941, life in China had become so dangerous because of Japanese aggression. The British government advised British nationals to leave. Liddell, a missionary, accepted a position at a rural mission station in Xiaozhang, which served the poor. The station was severely short of help and the missionaries there were exhausted. People came at all hours for medical treatment. Liddell suffered many hardships at the mission.
In 1943, he was interned at the Weihsien Internment Camp. Liddell became a leader and organizer at the camp, but food, medicine and other supplies were scarce. There were many cliques in the camp and when some rich businessmen managed to smuggle in some eggs,Liddell shamed them into sharing them. While fellow missionaries formed cliques, moralized and acted selfishly, Liddell busied himself by helping the elderly, teaching at the camp school Bible classes, arranging games and by teaching science to the children.
It was also claimed that on a particular Sunday, Liddell refereed a hockey match to stop fighting amongst the players, as he was trusted not to take sides.
Cliff described Liddell as “the finest Christian gentleman. It has been my pleasure to meet. In all the time in the camp, I never heard him say a bad word about anybody”.
Liddell died on 21st February 1945, five months before liberation. Langdon Gilkey later wrote, “The entire camp, especially its youth, was stunned for days, so great was the vacuum that Eric’s death had left.” According to a fellow missionary, Liddell’s last words were, “It’s complete surrender”, in reference to how he had given his life to God.
Key Point: Servant leaders are selfless, they think of their followers before themselves. They are always remembered long after their death.
Prayer Points:
I receive grace to be a servant leader who puts others first before personal ambitions and gains, in Jesus name.