Read Reflect Respond
Matthew 25:31-46
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the Truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, your were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40
When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne and all the nations will be gathered in His presence and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left. The ones on His right He will say, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. He will then commend them for when He was in need, they fed Him, gave Him something to drink, invited Him as a stranger into their home, clothed Him when He was naked, and visited Him when He was in prison and sick. The righteous will ask, “when did we do these things and He will say whereas when you did it for the least of my brothers and sisters you did it for me.” Then those on His left He will tell them “away with you , you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.” Then He will tell them how when He was in need they did none of those things, for when they did not do it for the least of those who were in need, they did not do it for Him. And they will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous will go into eternal life.
So what separates the ones truly in Christ from those who have refused Him? It is the fruit of their character. Christ searches out those who are in need. Some will perform acts of charity from a religious heart, serving an institution rather than serving the Lord. But others will serve because they have the Father’s heart. It has been said, and is not God’s Word – “God helps those who help themselves.” But how can the helpless help themselves? Rather, it is quite the contrary; Jesus came to show us the Father’s heart as He healed, and set the captives free.
We are made righteous in Christ alone. Our righteousness is not our own.
CR – Matthew 7: 15-22, Matthew 13: 24-30, Matthew 7: 21-23
LORD, separate the chaff from the wheat in my heart. Burn away the dross so I can be genuine. Help me see the need of those around me and bless them with your love.
