August 25

---

Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey. Isaiah 32:20

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1

---

🔊 These promises may seem small but, like many small things, they reveal the heart of the person, and here they reveal the heart of God. Human beings can be so fussy about the people they associate with, but God is a risk-taker – He causes His rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Christ entered Jericho. He was the sinless, holy Son of God, walking in majesty, divine authority and confidence. As He passed through, it was a renowned liar and cheat who caught His eye. Within a few moments of their meeting, Zacchaeus’ heart had been forever changed. If we check to see who is worthy of our grace, we may find that we ourselves have become unworthy Pharisees! God loves cheerful givers, because that is what He is. How wasteful and extravagant, how open to abuse! Certainly, and that is how God lives. Watch for the careful, mean attitude of a heart of unbelief, and begin to receive all who cross your path with the openness and delight with which God received you. An open hand and open face disarm people of their hardness and their defences. The world is expecting Christians to look down on them with mistrust and even disdain. Sadhu Sundar Singh dressed like an Indian holy man. There were many so-called ‘holy men’ in Indian society who claimed to be very spiritual, but they were often dirty and dishevelled wild beggars, and children fled from them. But when Sadhu entered a village, children ran out to greet this clean, smiling, loving man. Lavish your joy and love on everyone you meet. You will be surprised that you will receive the same attitude from others in return.