What Makes the Difference?
Opening Prayer
Jesus, let me see You in every person I encounter and let me love You through my love to the “least of these.”
Read Matthew 25:31-46
[31] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] 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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ [41] “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ [44] “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ [45] “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ [46] “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does Jesus say we practically serve him?Over these last three chapters of Matthew, Jesus has put us through the ringer. He has decried religious hypocrites, warned of hardships to come, and talked repeatedly about the dangers of choosing not to follow him. From this moment on, he moves into the final week of his ministry, but not before making one last, major point about God’s priorities.This story about dividing people on Judgment Day, like sheep and goats, may seem simply to be an illustration that God’s people get into heaven, and those who reject him do not. However, hear what the King actually says about what separates a “sheep” from a “goat”: it’s the way they treat “one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine” (40). Does He mean the poor in general, or specifically Jesus’ disciples in need? Why is our treatment of them so important to God? The way we respond to those who have nothing reveals our love for God. When we act selflessly, with no material benefit, we are acting out of love and compassion. In the following chapters, the Son of God will humble himself to the point of death. Following Jesus means embracing that same humility and submission, every day of our lives.
Apply
Ask God to draw your attention to some of the needs around you. Make a decision about how to serve the needy.
Closing prayer
Lord, let me not find that I have loved You with empty words, but help me love You in truth and with action.
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