WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
“After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila.”
Acts 18:18 (ESV)
THEY SHOWED KINDNESS BY WHAT THEY DID
A lion was awakened from sleep by a mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught the mouse and was about to kill him, when the mouse said, “If you spare my life, I will repay your kindness someday.” The lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him with strong ropes. The mouse, recognizing the lion’s roar, came, gnawed through the rope, and set him free. The mouse then exclaimed: “You did not think that I would ever be able to help you. You now see that is possible for even a lion to need the help of a mouse.”
Everyone needs help at some point, and everyone can be helpful at some point. It’s been said that love is an action word. Well, kindness is also an action word. We saw yesterday in Acts 18 how Aquilla and Priscilla gave materially to Paul and opened up their home. And today we learn that they also put their kindness into action by going with Paul to help him in Syria. I imagine they prayed for Paul, but they also put their faith, love and support into action.
Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” One key word in that passage is the word “opportunity.” Many of us might be more inclined to help others if it involved a sailboat on a Mediterranean cruise. Unfortunately, all needs don’t involve nice boat rides, but there are opportunities all around us every day to put our kindness into action. Ask God to show you an opportunity to do something kind in His name today.
