Let Love Move You to Action

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.’” John 13:35 NLT

In a heartwarming story titled “Teen runner gifts over 600 pairs of shoes to Sandy Springs elementary students” published over the weekend, the following was reported: More than 600 students in Sandy Springs have a new pair of shoes thanks to a generous high school runner with a heart of gold. The students at Lake Forest Elementary School were in for a pretty sweet surprise Friday when Mount Vernon School sophomore Collin Maher stopped by with 629 pairs of fresh new kicks – a pair for every child in the building... “They're overwhelmed with emotion, I am too just to see this. I've never experienced this in my career, and I've been doing this 30 years," Principal Laryn Nelson said. According to Principal Nelson, 94% of Lake Forest students are economically disadvantaged. Mount Vernon School sophomore and nationally ranked runner Collin Maher passes it by every day on his way home from school. Around this time last year, he said he had an idea. "I had to find out how to put together a race," Maher told FOX 5. "I made my own nonprofit. 501c3." And the rest, you could say, is history. Collin organized a race that made $18,000 and covered the cost of the shoes. 

And you know, this just goes to show what can be accomplished when a person is moved by genuine love and compassion for someone else—when they see a need and take it upon themselves to do all they can to fill that need. Which should be the example we all strive to follow. You see, it’s one thing to say we love others but it’s a whole other thing to show it. Which is the very reason Jesus said “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” It’s this sacrificial love, especially when extended outside the walls of the church and given to those who can never repay it, that will inspire the lost to seek Jesus… the greatest example of love. 

So let us look for needs that need filling and then fill them today my friend. Whether it’s for a fellow believer or for a total stranger, the world will see our love for others and know that we are children of the Most High. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we we are never more like Jesus than we we love like Him. Cause us to have compassion on those around us and to use our strengths and gifts to help in any way we can Lord so that others might see this love and seek the One who inspires it. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!