In Service and Hope

We start this week with a new government and a new Prime Minister. What struck me most about Sir Keir Starmer’s speech to the nation was his repeated mention of service – public service and its link to hope. Our new government has been elected to serve the country and our MP to serve our constituency.

As Christians we are all called to serve and to follow the example set by Jesus. We read that “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:45). Jesus told his followers: “I am among you as one who serves.”  and that the leader among them must become like one who serves (Luke 22:26-27).

The service we are each called to may take many different forms. Some may serve in a way which results in respect and profile, others may serve through roles which are hidden, unrecognised or undervalued such as the nurses, builders, drivers and carers which Keir Starmer mentioned in his speech.  Service can be costly and hard, as Jesus demonstrated in his life and death.

On Saturday I went to a training day for curates and readers in the early years of ministry. We read verses from Isaiah which reminded us that in service we rely not on our own strength but only on the strength and renewal God offers us.

This week as we serve God and others may we wait on and hope in the Lord. We can also pray together that, through his grace, God will strengthen and empower our politicians and civil servants to serve our country and the world with energy, persistence and integrity.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, 

   the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

    his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint,

    and strengthens the powerless.

Even youths will faint and be weary,

    and the young will fall exhausted;

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31