November 13, 2019

Be Kind to Everyone

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

Kindness has become a “thing.” You know. It’s having a moment of popularity in a world that seems increasingly filled with violence and hatred.

Except kindness was always supposed to be a thing. It’s part of the fruit of the Spirit. It’s part of who we are called to be as children of God.

We know that. We do. Except for the exceptions. We don’t believe we should have to be kind – or nice – to people who aren’t kind to us. That whole love your enemies thing just isn’t reality. That’s what we tell ourselves and others anyway.

And surely we shouldn’t be expected to be kind to people who don’t have a job. We don’t need to know their story to understand that they’re nothing more than deadbeats expecting the rest of us to carry them. We don’t care what the Bible says about taking care of the poor. Surely God wasn’t talking about “those” kinds of people.

Let’s not even talk about being kind to liberals (or conservatives). They don’t have a clue of what it’s like to be a real Christian. They kill babies, give everything we’ve worked for to the poor and want to hand our country over to the communists. We don’t need to hear what they have to say.

We don’t need to bother with strangers. Why should we show kindness to someone we don’t know, someone who really can’t do anything for us? We’ll gladly help God’s people so long as they look, act and live like us. But only if we can give money. We’re just too busy to serve in any other way.

Anybody can show kindness to someone we know and love. We show our faith, we show Jesus, when we’re kind to everyone. Remember: It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about Him. Every time you slight someone, look down on someone, or refuse compassion, you are doing the same to Jesus.

October 11, 2018

Love Your Neighbor

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

– Luke 10:29

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

It’s the day after. Hurricane Michael destroyed so much yesterday. Even now, it’s wreaking havoc on other areas. For those where I am, well, today we begin to pick up the pieces.

There are trees to cut up and remove, roofs to tarp until roofers can get to them. Some will be replacing windows and vehicles. Others, hurricane refuges, will grieve for all they have lost.

Facebook has proven to be a good outlet for locating family members, friends, work associates. Storm devastation prevents all but first responders from entering many areas and, with cell service not available, all many can do is pray and wait. Strangers helping strangers. One person posted a photo of a daughter, her husband and their two children so that a frantic mother could know they are fine.

The Coffee County Baptist Association Relief Group headed out this morning. Other religious and civic groups did the same. There are people to be fed, to be helped, to be held through their tears. Strangers helping strangers yet again.

My community was hit by a devastating tornado 11 years ago. It destroyed the high school. Eight students died. People came from all around to help. We remember that and we pay it forward every time something awful happens in another community.

The unfortunate truth is that people are kinder, friendlier, more apt to help strangers, when something awful has happened. Devastating storms bring out the best in us. It’s like we suddenly remember that we’re neighbors, no matter how far apart we live. We remember that Jesus told us to love people, to help others, to do good.

So, we fan out in droves. We pray without ceasing. We donate water and canned food. We hand out pillows and blankets. We pull on work gloves and offer generators. We share what we have because we know it could easily have been us. We love people where they are and forget to notice differences.

I wish we could be like that all the time. I wish we would help the elderly without being asked. I wish we would share and speak kindly. I wish we would focus on what we have in common and look over our differences.

Maybe that’s the lesson God is trying to teach us. Love your neighbors, whether you know them or not. Love your neighbors, whether you live close or far away. Love your neighbors. This world is hurting so badly. Just be Jesus. That’s all. Just be Jesus.

February 1, 2016

Welcome Others As Jesus Would

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. -- Hebrews 13:2

We expect Jesus to be there every Sunday when we join together to worship. We know this. It’s what the Bible says. Whenever two or more are gathered He is there.

But what if you got word that Jesus was really going to be there next Sunday -- as in the flesh, His human body, meet and greet, there? That was the question our pastor posed Sunday morning.

Can you imagine it? Social media would spread the news quickly. All those folks who only show up sometimes would be there for sure. Those who stroll in late most weeks, would manage to be there early. We wouldn’t get so caught up in our conversations with friends that we would neglect those who might be new. After all we wouldn’t want to miss saying hello to anyone Jesus invited to come along.

We’d reserve a special parking place for Jesus. We wouldn’t put His name up there for all to see but we would mark VISITOR on a big sign AND nobody would park there. Jesus wouldn’t use it, of course. He’s not like that. He’d park way out and walk and leave the closer spots for others.

Jesus wouldn’t have trouble finding a place to sit. Nobody would dare “reserve” the pew they sit on every week. Nor would they glare at Jesus for sitting there. Everyone would be sure to welcome Jesus.

Here’s the thing: We’re supposed to welcome everyone like we would welcome Jesus. We’re supposed to behave as though Jesus is standing right there beside us, with a broad smile on His face and a sparkle in His eyes. We’re to be glad to see everyone, whether we know them or not. And whether we particularly like them or not.

It’s not about us. We say that a lot but we don’t live as though we mean it. Deep inside, we want it to be about us. But it’s about Jesus. It’s about His people. It’s about being His eyes and ears and His heart here on this earth. His heart. Especially at church on a Sunday morning when we should be filled with Him.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Do You See Jesus?

Afterward he appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn’t recognize him at first because he had changed his appearance. When they realized who he was, they rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. -- Mark 16:12-13

Sometimes we don’t see Jesus because He shows up in ways we simply aren’t expecting. The two men didn’t expect to see Jesus as they walked toward the village of Emmaus. Jesus had died on a cross. They didn’t yet understand that Jesus had defeated death.

So Jesus walked with them, talked with them, and taught them from the Scriptures. And still they did not see Him. It wasn’t until they insisted that He stay the night with them, that Jesus revealed Himself. It wasn’t until they helped a stranger (Jesus) that they saw their Savior.

It’s funny how that works. When we receive kindness from a stranger, we see Jesus. When someone who doesn’t even know us goes out of their way for us, we see Jesus. When others help us, we see Jesus.

The reverse is true as well. Those who reach out and help others, feel Jesus in their hearts. Those who give, receive more than they could imagine. Jesus blesses us in amazing ways when we show Him to the world.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here. We must always be careful and never, ever do anything that would put ourselves in danger. But God does give us opportunities to help others. The question is whether we follow the nudging of the Holy Spirit or use our free will to ignore it.

On Easter Sunday, a dear woman told how she’d been rushing home to a family breakfast after an early service. She spotted a woman walking and carrying a Bible. “Something” told her to stop. She found out the woman was walking to church -- a long distance away. She gave her a ride. The woman called her an angel. She was really just living as Jesus told her to.

Another man spoke of car trouble during an early morning drive to work. He pulled over, as did the car behind him. The teenage girl kept her lights shining so that he could fix the problem. Afterwards, he thanked her -- and told her not to do it again. It was too dangerous. She was his angel, his Jesus, when he needed it.

We have opportunities all around us to reach out to others and show them what Jesus looks like. It might be a kind word to a frazzled clerk. It might be a bag of groceries left anonymously on a doorstep. It could be a ride, a hand up, a ray of light in dark circumstances.

We see Jesus when we live our lives as He calls us to live. It’s simple really. We just don’t always do it.