What Goes Around

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:9-12 ESV). You certainly don’t need much reminder of how small the world is in our day. I am convinced that the Lord has connected millions of people with one another in miraculous ways as a purposeful means of sharing the Gospel more effectively. AS our network grows, so does the opportunity to share God’s grace with others. This can come in unusual and unique ways. I am reminded of a story about Peter ten Boom who was the cousin of Corrie ten Boom. For those who don't know the story of the ten Boom legacy, their family was instrumental in saving the lives of Jews during the holocaust in World War II. At the age of sixteen, Peter defied the Germans by playing the Dutch national anthem in their church and the entire congregation stood up and sang. For this act of defiance, Peter was imprisoned. He did survive his imprisonments and after World War II, he traveled the world with the same message as his aunt, Corrie ten Boom. During his speaking tour in Israel, Peter had a heart attack and needed surgery. The night before the operation, the cardiologist asked Peter, "Are you by chance related to the ten Booms of Holland?" Peter replied, "Yes, that’s my family!" The doctor responded, "I'm one of the babies that your family saved!" The next day the man whose life had been saved forty years earlier, repaid the debt by saving Peter's life. That may be one of the most incredible stories of “What goes around, comes around.” Our reading today is an encouragement to persevere in our acts of kindness. We are called to sow seed not knowing where it might spring up. I often hear of people who “pay it forward” with some random act of kindness. These things that we do for others have a way of making an incredible difference in both their lives and ours. It's amazing how God has a way of doing that. The writer of our text today says, “He is not unjust to overlook your work.” That’s just another way of encouraging us that nothing good we do is in vain or forgotten. It will make a difference. God sees to that. Find someone today to do something good for. It will bring a good harvest in God’s time and purpose.