The Greek word anthrakia meaning “a heap of burning coals” appears only twice in the New Testament:

John 18:18

¹⁸ And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

John 21:9

⁹ As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

To learn more of how these two scripture passages tell a story of reconciliation listen to the sermon for February 3, 2019.

In Acts 2 we read Peter’s message to those gathered in Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost. In verse 14  Peter begins a powerful message that everyone needs to hear:

¹⁴ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.

Peter ends his message in verse 36 with this heart wrenching claim:

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.

Peter’s message is timeless. In the scripture there is a powerful message that the world still needs to hear. While we think of Jesus’ crucifixion as a historical event of the past we must remember that sin is timeless.  

In first John 2:1-2 we read that the crucifixion of Jesus was necessary not only the sins of the whole world but for my sins as well.

 ¹ My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an ^a]Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ² and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

On the Day of Pentecost when Peter proclaimed “whom ye crucified” he was talking to you and I thousands of years in the future. My sin put Jesus on that cross.

Sin is indeed timeless. 

In the parable of the sower, Matthew 13:22, Jesus warns us not to let the world cause us to lose our focus on the Word:

²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul tells of his focus on the prize set before him (Philippians 3:14):

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The Greek word translated mark is skopós – the root of our word “scope.” To bring something off in the distance into clearer focus we often rely on a scope; for example a sighting scope to better view the beautiful creatures of the air.

As we run our race we must stay focused on the cross lest we become bogged down in the thorns of life.

The smallest gesture of kindness can go a long way in spreading God’s message.

An old Chinese proverb goes something like this:

“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

In Galatians 6:10 we find the following:

¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Acts of kindness, no matter how small, are expressions of our faith and love for Jesus. If nothing more we can always lend a helping hand in prayer.

In the hustle of  life can we still find time to offer a pleasant word to a stranger? In Mark 1:40-42 we read of Jesus being moved with compassion to heal a leper.

⁴⁰ And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ⁴¹ And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. ⁴² And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Although we do not have the power to heal the physical body we can still be moved with compassion to offer pleasant words to those in need of healing. In Proverbs 16:24 we read of the power of pleasant words:

²⁴ Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Let us make every effort today to offer pleasant words to those who cross our path as we hustle through our busy day. Perhaps, some kind soul may do the same for us.