Daily Encouragement Net

  “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13).

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

 

Thursday, June 9, 2005

 

"Extraordinary Kindness"

 

"The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all" (Acts 28:2).

 

In 1977 Brooksyne and I moved to the Northeast from our native Midwest to begin a church in Pennsylvania. Shortly after we arrived, Stephen and Florence Bogdan, an older neighboring pastor and his wife reached out to us with support and encouragement. We specifically remember a fellowship meal in their home and a promise they made to regularly pray for us. They showed us extraordinary kindness.

 

Several years later they moved from that area but we stayed in contact, occasionally seeing each other at ministry functions. Many years later we took groups of young people to Philadelphia to work in a church they served in the Center City. For many years now we have continued to stay in contact through these daily encouragement messages. Stephen went on to be with the Lord several years ago and Florence continues on serving the Lord, now in her late 70's. This week we visited her in Philadelphia and the blessing of our long-term friendship was renewed.

 

Today I want to encourage readers to follow an example in Scripture set by the native islanders on Malta, who showed extraordinary kindness to Paul and his traveling associates. It's a great verse that can be easily overlooked as we read through the Bible. This kindness was demonstrated by preparing a fire to warm them and by receiving them.

 

The Scripture calls believers to live a life of kindness. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). Today we all have God's call upon our lives to express His kindness to an often harsh world and to be encouragers to the many who are in desperate need of an encouraging word.  And we can do this in so many different ways. Let us all seek the Lord about how we can show kindness today!

 

 

Be encouraged today,

 

 

Stephen C. Weber

 

Brooksyne's note: The primary purpose of our visit to Philadelphia was to go to the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Services) to be interviewed by an INS agent with the intent of adjusting Ester's residency.  The story is too long and complicated to explain, but we are still in the process of pursuing Ester's citizenship.  She was born in Guatemala and we are trying to obtain her U.S. citizenship.  If anyone reading this has had any dealings with the INS bureaucracy you'll know what I write when I say it is a very cold, impersonal agency but an absolute necessity to legally obtain citizenship.  The visit went well and we were very grateful for many who knew of our circumstance and prayed for us.  Within 2 to 4 weeks Ester will receive her green card which will then enable us to apply for her citizenship which will take about six months.  We've waited for almost eight years for this to happen, so we are very, very grateful.

 

Ester is very afraid of the city so that was a real struggle for the two days we were there.  As I was reading my devotions this morning I read from I Corinthians 16:17 when Paul wrote that his friends "have refreshed my spirit."  He then writes to the Corinthian believers, "You should recognize the value of people like these."  I, too, acknowledge with deep appreciation the kindness and refreshing Florence and her family brought to us during our visit to the city, and also the church folks and Otis' family.  In the midst of tall, stone buildings and traffic everywhere you look how wonderful to see kind receptive faces awaiting your visit and offering their refreshing words of Christian love and support in the midst of a tense situation.  "Even as Jesus refreshes us with His words of kindness may I be a refreshing today by my kind word or generous action to one in need.  Amen."

 

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

 

Personal Mission Statement: “I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God’s Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life’s goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity.”

 

© Copyright 2005 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved

 

"Living today anchored in God’s solid foundation"