DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ANONYMOUS ACTS OF KINDNESS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ANONYMOUS ACTS OF KINDNESS

"Then they asked him,' Who is the Man who said to you, "Take up your bed and walk?" ' But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place." (John 5:12-13)

We sometimes call them "random acts of kindness." These are acts of charity that are often anonymous. They are done without any expectation of praise or reward. They just flow out of the goodness of our heart.

Jesus did one of these anonymous acts of kindness. He saw this man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. He was among many others who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed waiting for the water in the Pool of Bethesda to be troubled so they could be the first one to enter the water and be healed.

There is no explanation in the biblical text why Jesus chose this one man to heal. But as he stepped through the crowd of people gathered around the pool, His attention was arrested by this one man. He simply healed him and then went on his way with no great fanfare. The man did not even know who Jesus was.

It was not until later than Jesus revealed Himself to the man as the healer. After that, the man went about witnessing that it was Jesus who had made him well.

The fact is that God does things all the time without great fanfare, and we often don't recognize that it was He who did it nor do we give Him thanks or praise. It may be as simple as providing the air we breathe, or it may be as great as saving us from an accident. It is not until we understand that all good things come from God that we give Him the credit.

Whether it is a believer or a pagan, God is doing good things for us. It does rain on the just and the unjust. Rain is a blessing and we need it. Often it is not until the drought comes that we look back and can see how God provided the blessing of rain. We don't give Him enough praise for His quiet acts of kindness.

God is a giving and beneficent God. Hopefully, we as His people recognize His provision and handiwork, even when unbelievers don't. Let us be thankful for His anonymous blessings.

Love, Dad