Be Ye Kind
There once was a school that had but one rule. (Oh, what a wonderful place that would be!) It is now known as Washington and Lee University and Robert E. Lee was at one time the headmaster of this institution. During his tenure, the story is told that only one rule was enforced. It was simply: Be kind.
This world of sinners can be a cruel place to live. Churches full of sinners are often no less cruel. Meanness abounds. Because of this, it is always refreshing when you cross paths with someone who exhibits true kindness.
Kindness is not a sentiment. It is an action. It is the action of our loving Father and it should be the action of all of His children.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
• Kindness is the opposite of meanness. We all have a “mean streak.” It is called sin nature. We want our way. Selfishness and “one to another” living cannot coexist in the same home.
•Kindness is rooted in tenderness. Soft hearts can make a great difference in a hard world. A kind word. A tender tone. They do not begin in the tongue, but in the heart…“tenderhearted.”
•Kindness is demonstrated most in our response to others who have done us wrong. “Forgiving one another.” It is not kindness to be kind when others are kind to us. That is just common courtesy. It is kindness to treat others lovingly when we have been treated hatefully.
•Kindness is a characteristic that makes us most like our Lord. “Even as God.” Only God is our example and only God can enable us to act and react kindly.
Of all the truth in this one little verse, I believe the greatest is to be found in the words, “for Christ’s sake.” Here lies the open secret to real kindness. We all want to be kind. How many times I have scolded myself for not having reacted as a Christian. But, how? There is only one way. We must not look at others. All eyes must be on Jesus.
I should not treat others kindly because they deserve it. At some point, I will reason that they do not deserve it! I should treat others with kindness because that is what Jesus would do. No, that is what Jesus has done. He has treated me with kindness when I did not deserve it.
Look at the cross of Christ and your heart will be tender. Listen to the kindness of the Saviour in the middle of His mistreatment and you will know how to respond.
“Be ye kind.” Ye means me. What a difference could be made by kind people in a mean world! Somewhere today, you and I will cross paths with some hurting person, some wounded soul. May they see and hear the kindness of Christ in us.
–Scott Pauley
SHARING
Beyond Understanding
“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” Genesis 22:7-8
This was a most difficult question for Abraham at the moment. How could he tell his son that he was the one to be sacrificed?
So, rather than resort to trying to come up with some satisfactory explanation, he directed Isaac to trust in and wait upon the Lord.
This is where Abraham had to go for his reckoning: “By faith, Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Hebrews 11:17-19 Abraham did not attempt to deal with this on the circumstantial level, but only by complete trust in God’s righteousness.
There was the testing moment when Abraham had to lay hold on and bind his son, put him on the altar they had built, and draw the knife to slay Isaac. Again, this moment could only be endured by sheer faith in God’s promises, that Isaac would be alive to perpetuate the promised seed.
Whatever agony Abraham experienced and whatever fear beset Isaac, yet they were both relieved and elated when God supplied the substitute to take Isaac’s place.
When our understanding doesn’t seem to be enough for our every question and perplexity, we are counseled to ask that we might receive, and to trust without doubting, in waiting upon the Lord in full confidence of God’s righteousness.
Because Christ is our substitute and means of deliverance, rather than suffer loss and deprivation, we are assured of being made overcomers beyond our understanding.
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32
SHARINGPersonal Convictions
“For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.” Romans 14:2-3
Personal convictions are very important in the life of a Christian. To believe in God’s righteousness is to care about our lives in His sight. But it must be remembered that personal convictions are just that, they are personal. Whenever we try to make our personal convictions the public norm, we run into problems. We must remember that our personal convictions are to be between us and our Master. We must do all we can to make sure they are approved of by Him, for the judgment’s sake and our testimony of faith. For if God approves them not, they are just weights that easily beset us.
For the most part, personal convictions are made up largely from our own person: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 It must be remembered, that at best, our person is still incomplete and is still yet to discover more things than we now know.
Personal convictions do not necessarily imply Christianity proper. People of heathen religions have personal convictions. The Pharisees had personal convictions, and because of these, they were given to finding fault against Christ and His disciples. Job’s friends had personal convictions, and due to their convictions, they deemed Job to be “unholy” and under Divine judgments for ungodliness. Peter had very high convictions about loyalty to Christ, unto death. And it was his personal convictions that got in his way of doubting himself enough to fully surrender himself to the admonitions of Christ, and thus Satan took advantage of him. When we become driven by our own personal opinions, we are wide open prey for Satan to sift us as wheat.
Due to personal convictions, some view a ministry to be too strict, while others view the same ministry to be too lenient. There is no way to form a bond of unity out of a mix of people’s personal convictions.
Real unity, and things done in a way that is expedient for the Lord’s work, comes to pass from the fruit of the Holy Spirit working within. People who live right and make decisions that honor God and build up His work, do so, not because of self-assertiveness, but by forsaking their own thoughts and ways, unto becoming directed by the Holy Spirit in what they are doing. Due to parties with strong personal convictions, the church can be sharply divided. But due to submission to the Holy Spirit, unity, growth, and fellowship abounds. BE CAREFUL! By personal convictions, we can be a more conscientious Christian, or become a law to ourselves, hardened in our own conceits!
SHARINGMen Who Paid Freedom’s Price
Our nation’s founding fathers knew how to count the cost of liberty.
On July 7, 1776, there was signed in the City of Philadelphia one of America’s historic documents: the Declaration of Independence. It marked the birth of this nation which, under God, was destined for world leadership.
We often forget that, in declaring independence from an earthly power, our forefathers made a forthright declaration of dependence upon Almighty God. The closing words of this document solemnly declare:
“With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
The fifty-six courageous men who signed that document understood that this was not just high-sounding rhetoric. They knew that if they succeeded, the best they could expect would be years of hardship in a struggling new nation. If they lost, they would face a hangman’s noose as traitors.
Of the fifty-six, few were long to survive. Five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes, from Rhode Island to Charleston, sacked, looted, occupied by the enemy, or burned. Two lost their sons in the army. One had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six died in the war, from its hardships or from its bullets.
Whatever ideas you have of the men who met that hot summer in Philadelphia, it is important that we remember certain facts about the men who made this pledge: they were not poor men, or wild-eyed pirates. They were men of means; rich men, most of them, who enjoyed much ease and luxury in their personal lives. Not hungry men, but prosperous men, wealthy landowners, substantially secure in their prosperity, and respected in their communities.
But they considered liberty much more important than the security they enjoyed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. They fulfilled their pledge. They paid the price. And freedom was won.
Someone has said, “To be born free is a privilege. To die free is an awesome responsibility.”
Yet freedom is never free. It is always purchased at great cost.
Little did John Adams know how significant his words would be when he spoke to his wife, Abigail, on the passing of the Declaration of Independence and said, “I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states; yet, through all the gloom I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means.”
To those who sacrificed for our freedom, the end was worth the painful means. Where would we, who are citizens of the United States of America, be today if there had not been those who counted the cost of freedom and willingly paid for it? Where will we be tomorrow if men and women of integrity do not come forward today and pay the price to reclaim a dying America?
–Unknown
“Posterity–you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.” –John Quincy Adams
“What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a price upon its goods, and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.” –Thomas Payne, 1776
SHARINGSaul’s Loss Of Grip On His Life
Saul’s Glorious Start
1 Samuel 10:9 God gave him another heart.
1 Samuel 11:6 He was backed by God when rightly engaged.
1 Samuel 11:12-13 He was sustained by grace, rising above human passions and faults.
How He Chose To Define Himself When He Was Strong
1 Samuel 13:11-13 He was unafraid to set his own boundaries and draw his own lines.
1 Samuel 14:24 He exercised judgment according to his own feelings, that lacked consideration for the interests of others.
1 Samuel 15:13 He was unafraid to declare his actions to be right, even when they were in violation of God’s command.
The Effects Of His Self Determination
1 Samuel 16:14 He was troubled in spirit; no longer being kept with the joy and peace of the Lord.
1 Samuel 17:32-58 He was sidelined by God; no longer being used of God to advance the cause of Israel.
1 Samuel 18:8-9 Bad feelings began to arise within him towards those whom God was using.
1 Samuel 18:21 He became deceitful in his dealings with the faithful.
1 Samuel 19:1 He openly announces his opposition to David; uses his status as king to be the authority to destroy David.
1 Samuel 19:9-10 His evil spirit continues to dominate and drive him.
1 Samuel 19:11 Saul has no room in his heart for reconciliation; only to go to war against David.
1 Samuel 22:17-19 Saul considers anyone who doesn’t side with him to be his mortal enemy.
1 Samuel 24 & 26 Being openly reproved, he admits wrong doing; yet would not humble himself before God unto seeking forgiveness and submission.
1 Samuel 31 Being wounded in a losing battle, he chose to end his own life.
When Saul lost sight of God’s purpose for his life, he lost his way in living his life.
Out of his own mouth: “I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” 1 Samuel 26:21
