Archive for January, 2019

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Alexander Maclaren: The Most Powerful Solvent

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

“Kindness. A wider benignity, with which some are so dowered that they come like the sunshine. But all can cultivate it. When we come out of the secret place of the Most High, we shall bear some reflection of Him whose “tender mercies are over all His works.” This is the opposite of that worldly wisdom which prides itself on its knowledge of men and is suspicious of everybody. It is the most powerful solvent of ill-will and indifference.”

Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910) in “The Garments of the Renewed Soul” a must-read short sermon by a prolific Scottish preacher.

I confess. I did not know what “benignity” meant, so I looked it up. I found that it means kindness, good deeds, or favor in action. Notice, for Maclaren, that this generous action starts with stillness with the Most High.

When we spend time with our kind and loving God, and then we go forth with kindness. His “tender mercies” or His proverbial fingerprints will be literally all over the works that we do. We will be shining.

Notice the impact. We can be generous with time or money, but when we cloth ourselves with kindness, we engage “the most powerful solvent of ill-will and indifference.” God help us dispense this solvent richly!

Make a generous gift to all of humanity, since there is so much ill-will and indifference in the world today. Spend time with the Most High daily. You will go forth radiantly shining with kindness.

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Andrew Murray: First instinctive

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6

“Blessed Saviour! With my whole heart I do bless Thee for the appointment of the inner chamber, as the school where Thou meetest each of Thy pupils alone, and revealest to him the Father. O my Lord! strengthen my faith so in the Father’s tender love and kindness, that as often as I feel sinful or troubled, the first instinctive thought may be to go where I know the Father waits me, and where prayer never can go unblessed. Let the thought that He knows my need before I ask, bring me, in great restfulness of faith, to trust that He will give what His child requires. O let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot of earth.”

Andrew Murray (1828-1917) in With Christ in the School of Prayer (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1895) excerpt from “Lord Teach us to Pray” in lesson three.

Ever feel overwhelmed? There’s more work to do than hours in the day. You don’t even know where to start. All of us have felt that way. I do right now.

And, since we are being vulnerable, perhaps your response to stress leans toward sinful reactions or maybe you stuff it inside and have a troubled spirit.

Welcome to being human. In my case I try to figure everything out, and I have learned that I must give it all to God and ask Him to sort it.

Where do you go in challenging times? Our “first instinctive” must be to go to the secret place of prayer. It’s at the intersection of generosity and kindness.

Only there do we find reward! What will the reward be? I can tell you with confidence. It may not be what you expect, but it will be what God knows you need.

Go there, so you know the way to point others. There are many stressed out and overwhelmed people out there who may need directions.

For those who prayed for my board meetings up here on Whidbey Island, thanks for your gift of intercession! We made much progress over the two days.

Should you tackle a task like starting an organization, set up camp in the secret place of prayer. Set everything before God and see what happens.

We did not envision how things would go and yet God knit our hearts with His heart. We learned that we need to go slow to go fast. And to keep praying.

We left with unity to pursue a long list of objectives and to make preparations for an exciting future that appears to be unfolding before our eyes. More on this later.

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Charles Haddon Spurgeon: The sweetest oblation

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

“As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for Himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications — and the more like our prayer is to Christ’s, the sweeter it will be; thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness, will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest oblation that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) in Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (Grand Rapids, MI: CCEL) evening reading for 6 February.

Spurgeon reminds us that praying for others is not only a generous way to show kindness, it’s actually the sweetest oblation we can offer to God. It’s what God chooses to put before His throne (see Revelation 5:8). Ponder that for a moment. God hears our prayers. He sees our giving too. For example, read Acts 10:3-4.

One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

No wonder that the Apostle Paul urged Timothy “first of all” to teach the Church in Ephesus (and us) to start with prayer for others! I am thankful that my Global Trust Partners board meetings are going well on Whidbey Island, WA (pictured above). I am confident it is because so many people are praying for us.

What does intercessory prayer look like in your life? Sometimes you say, “I will pray for you,” to someone, and then you forget. I know I have done that! What if, instead, we stopped and prayed for them on the spot? It’s a sacrifice of time and energy, but God sees and hears.

The sweetest, most generous oblation we can give, that is filled with kindness and love, is intercessory prayer.

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Robert Smith Candlish: Proffered Kindness

Meanwhile His disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then His disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” John 4:31-34

“When our Lord, in answer to the invitation of His disciples, “Master, eat,” says with seeming abruptness, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of,” He does not mean coldly and rudely to reject their proffered kindness, but rather He would turn that kindness to higher and holier account than they themselves intended. It was not their care for His bodily necessities was to Him impertinent or offensive, but that He would engage and interest their care in what to Him was far more urgent than any supply of His temporal necessities — His finishing the work on which His heart was set, and doing the will of Him that sent Him.”

Robert Smith Candlish (1806-1873), a famous Scottish preacher, in Sermons of the Late Robert S. Candlish (New York: R. Carter Brothers, 1874) 1, from the opening to his sermon entitled, “Sowers and Reapers.”

The term “proffered” means to hold out, tender, or offer something for acceptance. In this case, the disciples proffered kindness, or more specifically, they suggested that He take nourishment.

Notice the response of Jesus in today’s Scripture. When the disciples show this care from their hearts for His physical needs, Jesus takes the opportunity to raise they perspective to higher things.

This is an important idea for every follower of Christ to grasp. Sometimes we hold out something to the Lord, and His response to us is not necessarily as we expect. Often He stretches us.

Here, Jesus does that with them. There is something greater than food that drives Jesus. That is, doing the will of the Father and finishing His work. What does this have to do with our generosity?

As we grow in our generosity journey, in part by adding kindness to it, we must be prepared to be stretched. We too may proffer kindness to God, and it might seem abrupt as He lifts our eyes to see bigger things.

Today’s board meetings in Seattle are foundational for Global Trust Partners. Pray for wisdom and discernment. May God turn our kindness and service into something higher and holier for His purposes.

May He do the same for you. But consider yourself warned. It will likely thrust you out of your comfort zone. He may call you to sacrifice your agenda for your life in order to do the will of the Father and finish His work.

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S. Dryden Phelps: Something for Thee

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

“Something for Thee”

Savior, Thy dying love
Thou gavest me,
Nor should I aught withhold,
Dear Lord, from Thee:
In love my soul would bow,
My heart fulfill its vow,
Some off’ring bring Thee now,
Something for Thee.

At the blest mercy seat,
Pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee:
Help me the cross to bear,
Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or pray’r,
Something for Thee.

Give me a faithful heart,
Likeness to Thee,
That each departing day
Henceforth may see
Some work of love begun,
Some deed of kindness done,
Some wand’rer sought and won,
Something for Thee.

All that I am and have,
Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief, thro’ life,
Dear Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see,
My ransom’d soul shall be,
Thro’ all eternity,
Something for Thee.

S. Dryden Phelps (1816-1895) in “Something for Thee” (1862).

The lyrics of this old hymn touched my heart. I found them as I am looking at kindness back through church history.

In the first stanza, we are gripped by the sacrificial love of Christ for us. Our response is to give our lives in service to Him.

In the second one, we are reminded that our risen Christ is interceding for us as we live out our feeble faith. Our purpose is to make known His love.

By the third one, we find a prayer. It’s a prayer for a faithful heart to stay the course, day by day, in showing love and kindness to the lost and wandering.

Then in the last stanza we see unbridled generosity. We give all we are and all we have to God. He was the gift for us, and we are a gift back to Him.

Father, thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus. Strengthen our feeble faith by your Holy Spirit. Show your love and kindness through us. Receive us as something for thee. Amen.

Today I fly to Seattle for a prayer and discernment retreat with the founding board of Global Trust Partners, the international entity formed by ECFA on 11 December 2018.

We will seclude ourselves on Whidbey Island for a few days, thankful for God’s love, that Jesus cares more about this work than we do, and that the Spirit will guide us.

Take this “Something for Thee” posture before the Lord today. Afresh, take up your cross. Give all you are and all you have to Jesus and make known His love and kindness to the world.

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John Wesley: Envy, Kindness, and Generosity

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:3-4

“Love envieth not.” This, indeed, is implied, when it is said, “Love is kind.” For kindness and envy are inconsistent: They can no more abide together than light and darkness. If we earnestly desire all happiness to all, we cannot be grieved at the happiness of any. The fulfilling of our desire will be sweet to our soul; so far shall we be from being pained at it. If we are always doing what good we can for our neighbor, and wishing we could do more, it is impossible that we should repine at any good he receives: Indeed, it will be the very joy of our heart.”

John Wesley (1703-1791) in John Wesley in Sermon 139 “On Love” preached at Savannah, February 20, 1736 (text from the 1872 edition – Thomas Jackson, editor).

Why bring up envy when our focus is generosity seasoned with kindness? Envy is the sinful force that insidiously washes away our kindness and consumes our resources for doing good thereby limiting our generosity.

In modern terms, we want what other people have so we often live beyond our means to get those things. This activity uses what resources God has supplied for doing good to others on things instead of people.

The insatiable and dark desires of envy leave us empty.

Lest envy overtake you and your generosity, make a list of the things you think you want that others have. Give that list to God. Sometimes He may supply these things, and other times He may graciously show you that you never needed them after all.

What happens in you, however, is most important. When you let go of envy, you make room for the spirit to produce the fruit of kindness. As Wesley proclaimed, “Kindness and envy are inconsistent: They can no more abide together than light and darkness.”

Kindness fills us with light and love and enriches our generosity.

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Thomas à Kempis: Kindness and Grace

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“Whatever is wanting in me, good Jesus, Savior most holy, do You in Your kindness and grace supply for me, You who have been pleased to call all unto You, saying: “Come to Me all you that labor and are burdened and I will refresh you.” I, indeed, labor in the sweat of my brow. I am torn with sorrow of heart. I am laden with sin, troubled with temptations, enmeshed and oppressed by many evil passions, and there is none to help me, none to deliver and save me but You, my Lord God and Savior, to whom I entrust myself and all I have, that You may protect me and lead me to eternal life.”

Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) in The Imitation of Christ (Wheaton, IL: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 1998) 105.

As we think about the relationship between kindness and generosity, we must not miss the source of our supply: good Jesus. In kindness and grace He gives us everything we need to find rest, to avoid so many sinful traps, and to take hold of eternal life.

To imitate Christ, let us be people who live, give, serve, and love generously with kindness and grace. In so doing, may we lavish on others exactly what they need to be refreshed, strengthened, and pointed toward safety and salvation.

Do you know someone who is carrying a burden today? What if you helped them carry it like Christ has helped carry yours. Do it with kindness and grace. Hold nothing back either. Entrust yourself to good Jesus who supplies and has infinite kindness and grace.

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William Lenthall: Kindness to God

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

“Whatsoever duties we perform in kindness toward our neighbors, we perform unto God.

William Lenthall (1591-1682) in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 618.

Anytime Jesus makes a “truly” statement we need to pay attention. With this one He tells us that kindness to the least deserving person is kindness to Him.

In that text He references the hungry, thirsty, sick, and naked, and lest we think these are just those culturally perceived as nice people, the list includes prisoners.

As fellow humans, they are our brothers and sisters. Kindness to them is kindness to God. So, that said, will you be kind and generous to God or rude and stingy.

No wonder Jesus commands us to be generous at all times. It’s a test. How we treat people, especially the least deserving, reflects what we think of God.

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James Ellis: Little acts of kindness

As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. Luke 21:1-2

“Do not despise little things. The widow’s mite was as precious in the eyes of the Lord as the rich man’s gift; so should little acts of kindness be appreciated when emanating from a poor and generous heart.”

James Ellis in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 519.

Jesus sees all giving. He does not just notice big gifts or large displays of generosity. He sees the little acts of kindness.

May God give us the eyes to see and celebrate these little acts. They happen all around us thanks to our neighbors, our co-workers, and even strangers.

Perhaps you or I will be the widow today? God may give us the opportunity to do one or more little act of kindness by sharing generously from what we have: giftedness, resources, experience, etc.

Let’s do it. May God give us the hands to perform these little acts. And remember, Jesus sees our little acts of kindness and celebrates.

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Fredericka Bremer: Perpetual development

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3

“Is there any blessing of heaven which is more beautiful, more worthy of our warmest gratitude than the possession of a home where goodness, kindness, and joy are daily inmates; where the heart and eye may sun themselves in a world of love; where the mind is clear and elevated; where friends, not merely by words but by actions, say to each other, “Thy gladness, thy sorrow, thy hope, thy prayer, are also mine!”

See how, within the good and happy family, all inequalities are smoothed down, so as to form a common element of goodness and beauty, in which each member of the family finds his life, each power its development, each feeling its reception and its return, each pure pleasure its expansion…Life in a happy family is a perpetual development, a continual spring day.”

Frederick Bremer (1801-1865) in The Neighbors: A Story of Everyday Life, translated from Swedish by Mary Howitt (New York: Harper, 1843) 84.

Bremer’s sketches of everyday life in Sweden shaped living in Britain and the United States in the middle of the 19th century.

Here she speaks of the impact that goodness, also known as generosity, can have when coupled with kindness and joy in a home. It creates a place of perpetual development for all who live there and all who visit.

Is your home a place where, when people enter and visit, they become partakers of the peace, life, and love?

My wife, Jenni, and I have intentionally tried to make our home into a sanctuary where the Spirit of God dwells, where people experience the love of Christ, and where they see Bible verses and sayings that minister to their souls.

Walk around your home sometime today. What do you see? Is there clutter that must go? What do you hear? Is there noise that must be quieted?

Make your home a place that fosters “perpetual development” for all who enter it. Do this so that all who enter will prosper there. Fill it with generosity, kindness, and joy. It will be life-giving for you and everyone else.

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