JANUARY 15, 2015
Kindness
Gone Viral
Read: Mark
10:13-16
Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such
is the kingdom of God. —Mark
10:14
News of a simple act
of kindness on a New York subway has gone around the world. A young man, head
covered by a hooded sweatshirt, fell asleep on the shoulder of an older
passenger. When someone else offered to wake the young rider, the older man
quietly said, “He must have had a long day. Let him sleep. We’ve all been
there.” Then he let the tired fellow rider sleep on his shoulder for the better
part of the next hour, until the older man gently eased away to get up for his
stop. In the meantime, another passenger snapped a photograph and posted it on
social media, and it went viral.
The man’s kindness
seems to resonate with what we all long for—the kindness that reflects the
heart of God. We see this gentleness in Jesus when His friends tried to protect
Him from the noise and bother of little children. Instead, Jesus insisted on
taking the little ones in His arms and blessing them (Mark 10:16). In the
process, He invited all of us to trust Him like a little child (vv.13-16).
Jesus lets us know
that all of us are safe in His presence. Whether awake or asleep, we can lean
on Him. When we’re exhausted, He provides a safe place for us to rest.
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are
wild;
Still I can trust Him—I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
—Cushing
God
is a safe resting place.
Insight
Jesus demonstrated
that true faith in God was not bound by cultural concerns. In a patriarchal
society, He met and talked with women (see John 4). He ate and drank with those
who were considered impure (see Luke 7:36-30; 17:11-19; 19:1-10). He even
embraced children, when most would push them aside (Mark 10:13-14). Jesus
didn’t simply say that He had come to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10); He
demonstrated it by showing that God’s love is open to everyone.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
