A MISSIONARY had been working among the natives in the interior of South Africa for many months. He had not been able to get out to the coast for supplies, nor had he seen a white man for a long time. His clothes were worn and tattered and his boots were almost gone.
At last the opportunity came for him to go to the coast. He had no funds but he trusted God to supply his need. Sure enough, after he got there, the Lord was good to him, and before he started back into the interior a friend presented him with a nice new pair of leather boots.
It was a long way back to his station and he had to walk all the way, accompanied by several faithful natives. It was a rainy season and the rain poured down all day long. At night they made a fire and the missionary lay down to rest. Everything was wet, but he made the best of it.
The missionary dropped off to sleep. One of his Christian baggage carriers, who loved him very dearly and wished to help him in every way he could, thought he would dry the missionary’s boots. Not knowing any better, he set them too close to the fire. Before long the leather toes were burned to a crisp.
In the morning the young native told the missionary he had dried his boots for him and seemed to feel his friend should be very proud of him. However, when he put on his boots the toes fell out. This was almost too much for the missionary. So great was his disappointment that he almost felt like giving the young fellow a thorough scolding. However, instead he thanked the poor fellow, and put on his boots, and they started on their way. The disappointment was hard to forget, but after all the boy had not intentionally done wrong. He must forgive him.
When he looked down and saw the toes out of his boots he became quite blue and discouraged, but when he looked up and got his eyes on the Lord he felt better.
As he traveled on, whenever he looked down he would become sad, but as long as he looked up he had victory.
How true this is for a Christian. If we look down or within there is so much to make us feel discouraged and unhappy, but when we look up and look on we can rise above our sorrows; “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Rom. 8:3737Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:37)).
Dear Christian, keep looking up.
ML-04/16/1972