Morning Devotional 090724 What Do You See?

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  September 7, 2024

Matthew 25:31-40

31 “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left. 34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’

Good Morning! What a mighty God we serve!

I love it when I discover God’s mysterious ways in action. This passage popped into my mind yesterday as I was working on my Sunday sermon notes. How many times do we land among the goats? We are so quick to judge others based on their outward appearances. 

We are challenged by anyone who is “different” than us. I remember a friend who was upset that her daughter went on a field trip that included a meal at a Hispanic marketplace because she returned home with strange smells in her clothing. Many things attack our strong opinions about what is normal and what is not. 

As much as I try to embrace all I meet, I am standoffish more often than I want to admit. It’s funny because sometimes we are equally afraid to approach those who appear “better” than us, as well as, those we think are less than ourselves. 

We are called to look at others not by their outward appearance but by the blessings that are hidden inside each child of God. Jesus taught us this when he walked among us, and continues to teach us through scripture that all are worthy of our attention and love. 

Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. Remove our earthly blinders so we may see into the hearts and souls of those strangers we encounter. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God works through us to show love to others.

Open the eyes of your heart!  Pastor Liz