Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
October 13, 2023
Mathew 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. Take time to be Holy!
This is a well-known passage in Matthew. One of the most redeeming parts of the story of the sheep begins in verse 37 when they begin asking when they did do these righteous things. They didn’t feed the hungry, care for the sick, give the needy clothes, or visit the lonely because they were trying to be righteous or earn their way to their salvation. They did these things because they were the right thing to do. They were not led by an agenda but by their hearts.
On the other hand, those designated as goats would most likely have done those things if they felt it would give them an advantage in any way. Of course, they would have cared for their Lord if they encountered him with such needs, but for the truly needy, they walked away.
Much like the story of the Good Samaritan, the goats were driven by a need for self-preservation while the sheep acted upon the needs they encountered. This story is relevant to us today because we often have an agenda that drives our actions. Do we spend our time and resources creating a great plan to help the needy who continue to suffer while we plan, or do we see and meet a need out of our love for our neighbors?
Awesome God, We love you! We want to help others, but we fear for our safety, and we judge how/why the need exists. Help us serve with joy and leave the judgment to You. Thank you. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I will be ready to meet the needs of my neighbors.
Follow your heart! Pastor Liz
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