Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5
"Challenge" is a devotional feature with a Biblical challenge for the day, that is written by Bob Foster of the Navigators, and hosted by Harold Hall on the radio. You may read or listen (Real Audio) to Challenge:
I n Genesis 18, we read that Abraham was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes, looked, and behold -- three men were standing by him. And when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them.
An unkind Christian is a contradiction, says Bob Foster. Kindness is the fabric of a big man. A sympathetic nature is not stuffiness, or Pollyannaism, but a sincere attitude of love that issues in acts of favor and generosity. If longsuffering is love in the passive, kindness is love in the active voice. It is more than seeing the hungry, naked, sick, and sorrowing; kindness meets their urgent need to the measure of one's ability. It is the feat of Christian exercise.
Abraham noticed them, sprang-up, ran to meet them, and welcomed them. God takes notice of kindness done to others: the widow's barrel of meal for Elijah; the loaning of a donkey for King Jesus; the tears of the woman who washed the Saviour's feet; the barbarous natives of Malta showed Paul no little kindness. True humanity is never artificial. Its genuineness is proved by the willing sacrifice. For the kindness that costs nothing, is usually worth nothing. Notice what Abraham did after the three visitors stopped a while. He ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick – mix-up some pancakes. Use your best flour and make enough for the three of them." Then he ran out to the herd and selected the fat calf, and told the servants to hurry and butcher it. Soon, taking them cheese and milk and the roast veal, he set it before the men and stood beside them as they ate (Genesis 18:6-8). This was more than oriental custom. This was Godlike-kindness. If we show compassion only to those who are worthy of it, life indeed would be dual. Supposing the Good Lord showed His kindness only to those of us who deserved it!
In Bible days, if a poor man had no coals for a fire in cold weather, he might go out to beg for some. He would carry something like a pail on his head and let his need be known. If he passed by the house of one with whom he had been at odds, and if that man were a Christian – there was only one thing to do – have a heart. He would take some live coals from off his own fire, and drop them out of his window into the beggar's pail. Thus, he would heap coals of fire on his head, and make himself a friend for life by his ungrudged kindness. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love that issues in kindness.
Let's look today for an opportunity to relieve the sick, comfort someone in sorrow, help shoulder the load for one who is staggering, or share with those who are hungry. Kindness is not the effeminate expression of weakness – but the demonstration of the gentleness of strength. Be big – be kind!
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