Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 25
Monday



THE KINDNESS
OF STRANGERS

READ:
Philipians 2:1-8
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Do not forget to
entertain strangers,
for by so doing some
have unwittingly
entertained angels
___________________________________

While I was taking a flight to Surabaya, Indonesia, for a Bible conference, the flight attendants brought meal service. I had just eaten in the Singapore airport, so I declined, asking only for a soft drink. The Indonesian man next to me, a stranger, was visibly concerned.

The man asked if I felt okay, and I assured him I was fine. He then asked if perhaps the meal didn't appeal to me. I responded that I just wasn't hungry. He then surprised me by offering his own meal to me, thinking that if I tried it I might actually enjoy it. It was done in such a gentle and genuine way that it was obviously an expression of his concern for my welfare.

In a self-centered world where we are conditioned to look out for our own interests above and beyond all else, such kindness was unexpected. The man's simple gesture showed a different kind of heart and a different set of values. As followers of Christ, we are called to model a similar counter-cultural attitude toward life (Phil. 2:1-8).

In Hebrews 13:2 we read, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." What better way to represent Christ than with kindness--even to strangers. __Bill Crowder
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``````````````Try to bring God's love and kindness`````````````````
``````````````````Into someone's life today;`````````````````````
``````````````````even just the gift of caring`````````````````````
`````````````````will the Savior's love display.````````````````````
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***********Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 2:1-8**************

1 Therefore if there is any
consolation in Christ, if any
comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if
any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by being
like-minded, having the
same love, being of one
accord, of one mind. 3 Let
nothing be done through
selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better
than himself. 4 Let each of
you look out not only for
his own interests, but also
for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you
which was also in christ
Jesus, 6 who, being in the
form of God, did not
consider it robbery to be
equal with God, 7 but made
Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in
the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled
Himself and became
obedient to the point of
death, even the death of
the cross.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Philippians 2:5-11, the famous "self-emptying" passage, is one of
the greatest and most profound statements about Jesus Christ, Jesus
"made Himself of no reputation" (v.7). Leterally, this means "He
emptied Himself," not of His deity but of His glory. Jesus did not
cease to be God, but willingly surrendered the independent use of
His powers and the right to manifest His own glory as God. Jesus
also took on humanity (vv.7-8), manifested in His incarnation (birth)
and His crucifixion (death). __SKT