I have run my race. Finished my course. But what did I do about my shoes?

When it comes to running shoes…and Christianity…

There are shoes designed for runners. They are engineered and designed for that purpose. Before that shoe is manufactured, the study of a human body in motion while running is made, including the impact, the effect of the impact on the body while the feet in those shoes connect with pavement, the way the foot strikes, the need for support placement on the sides and the bottom of the shoes, and all other pertinent knowledge is necessary to achieve success and bring life to that instrument, the shoe, that will impact the life of the runner.

Then the shoe goes through the process and to the stores, where there are two groups of people involved afterward. 
There is the buyer of the shoe. Let’s relate that to Christianity. The shoe buyer is the convert. She is the runner with sore, achy feet who is wanting something better because her running life isn’t as good as it should be. She knows there’s got to be something better so when someone recommends this new shoe, she buys it.This is much the way we all came to be Christians. Someone told us there was a better life in Christ and we longed for more because our life wasn’t “running” well.

There is also the shoe “broker”. We will call those people disciples. These are the people that have knowledge about what makes the shoe work. They understand the shoe. They sought understanding to know the benefits of it. They know the design of the shoe and the reason for the shoe. They know the cost, the time, the effort that was put into the planning, design and purpose, and thereby the true value of the shoe. They not only wear the shoe, but they promote the shoe, They are serious runners who have tried the shoe and found it to be the best shoe. They are the ones who give life to the shoe’s potential. Out of their love for other runners who, like themselves, need good shoes, they willingly go out and teach others what they themselves have learned…that life is better, safer, more complete in the area of running…with this shoe, because the shoe was made for a purpose.

I bought running shoes. I didn’t understand the design of the shoe. I just knew when I tried them on they felt more comfortable than the shoes I was wearing. I became a convert to that shoe. My running shoes will never live up to their potential because I am not interested in going beyond their comfort benefit to me in order to “live up” to what they were created to be. The value of the running shoe will never be something I tell others. I will not become a shoe disciple. It is not something I think about. I just know it’s made my life better and I’m content with that. I’m willing to let everyone else fend for themselves when it comes to understanding running shoes.

When it comes to my Christianity, I pray it’s not the same story. May I never be content to let others fend for themselves when it comes to the knowledge of Jesus while I walk around comfortable and content with what I have. The value of what I have in Him is too great to selfishly hoard it to myself by keeping silent.