Carol Jensen-Linton
March 9, 2021
Acts 28: 1-2 NIV
“1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.”
Paul was on a ship headed to Rome when it shipwrecked off the coast of Malta. Life was rough for Paul and those on the ship with him. They had been through extremely rough seas and hurricane-strength winds. We all have faced rough times – some which would be considered minor while others intense.
One of my favorite scriptures is the Great Commandment that Jesus shared. It’s how I sum up how I try to live each day – loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and loving my neighbor as myself. I try to put myself in another person’s shoes and open my heart to their needs. That’s what the people of Malta did for Paul and his companions.
What would happen if we followed the advice of Martin Kornfeld: “If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction.” To me, that is what Jesus commanded us to do.
There are a ton of ways to show kindness, even small things – letting a harried mother go before you in the checkout line, making a meal for a person who has lost a loved one, taking a senior’s garbage can to the street and then returning it when it is empty, giving a cold water bottle to your mail carrier when it’s hot outside. What will you do today? As Christ followers, what will we do?
Let us pray,
Heavenly Father, help me recognize the needs of others so that I may show KINDNESS to them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
