Friday, October 2, 2015

One random act of Kindness



Luke 13:10-17

What doctor Luke is sharing about Jesus healing a woman with a disabling spirit, should encourage any and all who have been misunderstood for an act of kindness.  EUGENE, Ore. the Kelsey Hertel story; “People can’t accept the fact that there are other people who just want to be nice,” says Sheldon High School senior Kelsey Hertel, who founded the school’s new Random Acts of Kindness Club. “People don’t trust each other. They think everyone’s out to get them.”

All they wanted to do was change the world, one random act of kindness at a time.  Instead, they were met with furrowed brows, questioned by Eugene police and ousted by Valley River Center security officers.  Often, our best intentions are misunderstood, even by the people closest to us and for many it is a showstopper, these were the words of the writer of the article.

I’m so glad Jesus is not like us, for if He were we would be without hope.  Dr. Luke records one of many times where an act of kindness by Jesus was totally misinterpreted.  This poor lady was not able to walk upright, she had been bent over for 18 years and when Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”  “And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.”

 No one could find any fault with that act, could they?  The answer is yes they can.  The rest of the story is needed, it took place in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and the ruler of the synagogue was indignant because Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  This was written by Dr. Luke; “There are six days in which work ought to be done.  Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”  “Then the Lord answered him,  “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.”  (Luke 13:15-17 ESV)

A word to the wise is sufficient and we find such a word in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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