And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even “sinners” do that. --Luke 6:33
R.L. Sharpe related the following story:
“When I was just a lad, my father called me to go with him to old Mr. Trussel’s blacksmith shop. He had left a rake and a hoe to be repaired, and when we got there, they were fixed like new. Father handed him some money for the work, but Mr. Trussel refused to take it. ‘No’, he said, ‘there’s no charge for that little job.’
“My father kept insisting, but I shall never forget that great man’s reply. ‘Ed,’ he said, can’t you let a Christian do something now and then?just to stretch his soul?’
“That short but effective sermon set me to thinking. I since have found the great joy and quiet happiness that come from doing little things for Jesus, and in the process I’m ‘stretching my soul.’”
This really is Christianity in action! Scripture says that one of the fruits of the Spirit is kindness (see Galatians 5:22). And Proverbs 19:22 says, “What a man desires is unfailing love….” Our world is submerged in so much hate that it is oftentimes easy for believers to catch some of it. But kindness is key in the Christian life.
The Bible says that all believers should “add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).
Just as Christ first loved you and showed you the kindness you truly didn’t deserve, so should we display the loving kindness of Christ to all people.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to give you the chance today to be kind to someone who may or may not deserve it.
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