Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:1-3
Our church collects food for a community food pantry. That is, we are able to help households in our community by giving them some provisions. We cannot help them with everything, but we can supplement their own food supply. Because of our limited resources (mainly just by food donations from our church members and friends), we are not able to help everyone who asks. We try to distribute the food to several different families and individuals in need every month, but we also give them information on other agencies that may be able to assist them.
Today, I had the privilege of giving a household a box of canned goods, and a few grocery bags of more food. The woman who came to pick it up could not stop telling me about how good God was. She told me of her many woes, a tragedy from just this past year, and the reason she needed the food right away. She told me about a person who challenged here to stand on a corner and preach the gospel. The one who challenged her is not a believer, and does not understand how this woman is still going on with her life. She says her life may look bad, but God has always been there. "For the grace of God, I am still here. I will praise His name and tell others about Jesus all the days of my life." She said it was going to happen this Sunday.
I was happy to help, even though it was a little inconvenient for me (I skipped my lunch time so I could wait for her. She said she had gotten lost on the way to the church.) This woman sounded grateful, and blessed, even though most things were not going well for her. I was blessed to hear her testimony, and to be able to meet her basic need of food.
I am nothing without Christ. He is my Savior. He is her Savior. By sharing her burdens with me, I believe God will continue to help her. Our church showed love by giving her some food, and she is showing love by spreading the Good News that Jesus has died for all of our sins!
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