No Strings Attached

No Strings Attached

Illus from sermon central

One day a woman was rushing home from a doctor’s appointment. The doctor had been somewhat delayed at the hospital, and the lab work took a little longer than usual, so by the time she left the clinic she was running quite a bit behind schedule.

She still had to pick up her prescription, pick up the children from the baby-sitter, and get home and make supper, all in time to make it to the prayer meeting at her church that evening.

As she began to circle the busy Wal-Mart parking lot, looking for a space, the windows of heaven were opened and a downpour began.

While she wasn’t usually the type to bother God with small problems, she began to pray as she turned down the row closest to the front door.

"Lord, you know what kind of a day I’ve had, and there’s still an awful lot to do.

Could you please grant me a parking space right away, oh, and close to the building so I don’t get soaked."

The words weren’t even completely out of her mouth when she saw the backup lights of a car come on at the end of the row.

It was the best space in the whole parking lot, the number 1 spot right next to the handicap spots and straight out from the front door.

She made straight for it and as she pulled in, she said, "never mind God, something just opened up."

Isn’t that the way it seems to be now a days, It’s like today’s society of self absorbedness feels too entitled to take the time to say thank you, when someone shows them kindness or compassion.

Have you noticed when you hold the door for a stranger and only a small percentage acknowledges the gesture and says thank you? Kind of makes you think why even bother! When that happens, we tend to think how rude. Have you ever been there?

True compassion and kindness doesn’t look for opportunities to be recognized, they just look for opportunities.

If an act of kindness or compassion continually seeks to be reciprocated, is it truly an act of kindness or compassion?

Sometimes showing compassion and kindness is hard to do. Has anyone ever heard or muttered the words, “they didn’t even say thank you or nothing?”

Many have said why even bother, but the Bible instructs us as to seek out opportunities to be kind and compassionate. The fruit of the spirit sometimes gets confused with the gifts of the spirit. The gifts are what we possess inwardly, the fruit of the spirit is what we produce or show outwardly, the more we strive to be like Jesus.

Jesus shows us a great example of kindness and compassion in the book of Luke.

Luke 17:11-19 MSG.

11-13. It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

14-16. Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

17-19. Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

TBS. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

There are a lot of people even today, including Christians that have the same philosophy. They have needs that need to be met and their calling out for mercy, but always from a distance.

Jesus shows us kindness and compassion without strings attached to them. Jesus shows kindness and compassion in its purest form.

The good news is that God is accessible to you, no matter where you are. Like the lepers, He will help you where you are, all you have to do is come as you are to Him!

So many people treat the opportunity of relationship with God like flipping a coin. Some say that they will come to church and the things of God, if He will just help them.

And the second bunch says after they do this and give up that, when they stop living in sin, or when they change the way their living.