Secret Service.
This morning, my wife and I had the joy of serving with The Bridge Ministries in downtown Columbus. It was a full house—between 80 and 90 guests came through the doors for a hot meal. It was a blessing to be part of it.
There’s really nothing like serving others freely. The effort is never wasted. The conversations are always interesting. The bond that forms between those we serve, those serving alongside us, and even between ourselves and God is something sacred.
And here’s the secret: every time we open our calendars and our hearts to serve, we are the ones who are served.
The Holy Spirit has a way of showing up when we decide to pour ourselves out for others. This morning, I had the chance to sit and talk with a 36-year-old man named Ed. I heard his story. Where he came from, how he ended up in Columbus, and what he hopes for in the future. From the outside, Ed and I may seem like we’re worlds apart. But in that moment, we really connected. We prayed together. We saw and heard one another, not as strangers, but as brothers in Christ.
The Bible encourages us to cherish these moments:
“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring… you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
— James 4:13–14
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
— Matthew 6:34
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
— Romans 12:16
“When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed…”
— Luke 14:12–14
Today, I was given the gift of being fully in the present, not concerned about what came next, but focused on the moment right before me. There was so much freedom in that. Sitting, listening, and praying with someone who lives a very different life, but meeting him in that moment, on level ground, was a blessing for us both.
This is the secret service that happens inside the heart when we give freely. God ministers to us in those hidden spaces. He does something quiet but powerful. Something eternal.
Let’s not take these moments for granted. Let’s model the heart of God—not only in what we do publicly, but in how we open our hearts privately.
As we head into the final stretch of the week, let’s find ways to serve. You never know how God might meet you there.
-Mark
