Please forgive the lateness of this devotion. There were some technical difficulties. Our devotion is written by BRIAN SMITH who serves at Hillcrest Presby.
-----------------------------
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew25:32-40
This is such a powerful scripture of our call to make a difference in other peoples lives. It gives us a great picture of all the people gathered before God and how all the people will be judged.
This has been a scripture that has challenged me on many an occasion. It has worked so powerfully in my own life that it is written on the front of the book that we use to record what support we give to people from our church. I need to be reminded of the words, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ as I meet people in need.
Often when we meet those who are "one of the least of these" we first employ a series of filters that guide our help. Sentences play in our minds such as, "I am sure they will just use the money I give them to buy alcohol." or "He doesn't look like he is that hungry." or "I am sure plenty of people have given her something today." I am afraid that I also have these words that sometimes try and help me decide who? and how? I should help.
When this happens I remember the words of today's verse, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ and I am able to be more generous.
What are we called to do in this verse? We are called to minister to a number of different people in different ways. To feed the hungry. To give something to drink to those who are thirsty. To invite the stranger in. To give clothes to those who need clothes. To visit those in prison.
I was in Atlanta in the USA in 2000 and I visited a Presbyterian Church. It was a week day and the sanctuary was a huge dormitory. This Presbyterian church had wanted to start a soup kitchen for the homeless. They had made soup and gone out and only fed one man. They asked why no one else had come for soup and he had said that they did not need soup but a place to stay. The church now rolls out plastic over their sanctuary carpet. The piano and pulpit are pushed up against the wall and mattresses and totes are brought in for the men with their possessions in them. During the week the men sleep in the church every night. On Sunday mornings everything is changed and church happens. After the service it's back to the dormitory.
"whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
What are you doing for the least of these?
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
