But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35
I don't know if you've noticed, but this sinful world is a pretty selfish place.
That's why, when I hear of an especially caring act, I'm glad to share it with others.
Not so long ago, I heard of a small-town barber who noticed that he had quite a few new customers walking in the door. Business was booming and, without trying to appear ungrateful, he poked around to find out why.
It took a bit, but he was soon told that the other barber in town had had minor surgery and wouldn't be able to get back to work for a few more weeks.
Amazingly, at the end of every week, the Christian barber took all the extra money he had earned and gave it to his competitor.
I did tell you the barber was a Christian, didn't I?
A Christian showing Christian compassion.
When I heard the story I wondered, "Would I have acted that way?" Let's take that thought one step further. Would I have even thought of doing something of that kind?
I just don't know. I do know this: from now on, I will try, in the Name of Jesus, to go that extra mile. And, being a social sort of fellow, I'd like to invite you to join me.
It won't cost you very much. Certainly nowhere near what it cost the Savior to rescue us from sin, death and devil.
Indeed, it costs Jesus' people so little to be kind and generous; and it mends so many fences when we go just a bit out of our way to reach out.
It's a wonderful lesson from a Christian barber - - a lesson for a pastor like me and a person like you.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to reflect Your Love by being kind and generous to those around me. It costs me so little to do so. Through my life, may others learn of the high price You paid for them out of love. In Your Name Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 149-150 1 Corinthians 5
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