Serve One Another Humbly
During the long stretch of our ongoing national health crisis, we have witnessed a lot of frustration, suffering and grief. However, we also have found hope and inspiration in the selfless courage of our healthcare workers and first responders, putting their own lives on the line to get us all through this difficult time.
Although we have had to keep our distance from each other, we’ve all seen or heard of neighbors bringing meals to elderly shut-ins, volunteers donating and handing out food supplies to the needy, and teachers leading their students through the challenges of
virtual learning.
Yes, the pandemic is far from defeating us; there is too much good in the world. “Borrowed Shoes” is yet one more touching story of the human spirit that we share in this week’s Faith Over Fear message – and a good way to get our hearts in tune for this year’s Christmas season.
Blessed to be a Blessing,
Greg Syfan,
President, Syfan Logistics
“Serve one another humbly in love.”
Galatians 5:13
Borrowed Shoes
By Kirsten Holmberg
Our Daily Bread Ministries
In the chaos of fleeing his home during the California wildfires, Gabe, a high-school senior, missed the state-qualifying cross-country race for which he’d been training.
Missing this race meant he would not have the chance to compete at the state meet – the culminating event of his four-year running career.
In light of the circumstances, the state athletics board gave Gabe another chance: He would be allowed to run a qualifying time by himself on a rival high school’s track. Unfortunately, he’d also have to run in “street shoes,” because his running shoes were in the charred rubble of his home.
When he showed up to “race,” Gabe was surprised by his competitors who turned out to supply him with proper shoes – and to run alongside him to ensure he kept up the pace necessary to make it to the
state meet.
Gabe’s opponents had no obligation to help him. They could have given in to their natural desires to look out for themselves (Galatians 5:13) because doing so might have improved their own odds of winning. But Paul urges us to display the fruit of
the Spirit in our lives – to “serve one another humbly in love” and to demonstrate “kindness” and “goodness” (vv. 13, 22).
When we lean on the Spirit to help us not act on our natural instincts, we’re better able to love those around us.