Fred's Notes

George Morrison was a Scottish preacher of some fame. Morrison dreamed one night that he traveled up to heaven.  There at the Pearly Gates he introduced himself to St. Peter.  But St. Peter couldn't find his name in the Book of Life.  Morrison tried to explain that he was a pastor, a man of God.  St. Peter had never heard of him.  Morrison protested that he had spent years in a well-known ministry and had brought many souls to Christ, but still St. Peter couldn't locate him. Finally, St. Peter found him.  "Oh, I do have a notation here," St. Peter remarked, pointing to his name.  "It says, 'One night he sat up all night long with somebody who was dying.'"  For all his great fame and accomplishment, Morrison would be known in Heaven only for his deeds of kindness.

KINDNESS IS A REFLECTION OF THE IMAGE OF GOD IN WHICH WE WERE CREATED.

Having said that, however, we must add something else: CHRISTIANS ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO BE KIND.

We don't have any choice about it.  Christ told us to love our enemies. He told us to regard sick people, hungry people, homeless people, people in prison, people who are dying as Christ himself.  We are to offer a cup of cold water to anyone who is thirsty.

"While we were yet sinners Christ died for us . . ." writes St. Paul. (Romans 5:8) Christ didn't wait until we cleaned up our lives. He didn't wait until we could reciprocate. He gave while expecting nothing in return--except one thing: That we will pass on the kindness we have received from him to others. That is our Christian call.

Kindness has its rewards. Sometimes when we respond to someone else with love and generosity of spirit, they, too, may become a little kinder, gentler.

How will you be remembered in heaven?  What will the Book of Life have to say about you?  What act of kindness can you give this week?

Lectionary

http://www.disciples.org/lectionary/

http://www.missionmississippi.org/TuesdayThursdayPrayerBreakfasts.dsp