…and you gave me something to drink. These words have echoed in my head the past few days. It’s the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 25:35, and the message is one that we still don’t seem to understand.
Jesus says that the kind works we do to others, we are really doing to Him. Likewise, when we neglect the needs of others, it is also being done to Him. If we looked at our actions today, and really opened our eyes to the way we have treated people, would we weep with regret of how we have treated our Lord?
The answer to that question is probably not something you’d like to admit. This brings me to my next point…
Along with the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 25, I have also felt a deep sorrow for the Body of Christ. I can only imagine what God sees when He looks down on His creation and finds that the ones who have been commanded to love their neighbors, are doing just the opposite. Where have we gone wrong? How did Christianity become so twisted and full of hidden agendas? When did we decide who we are going to welcome, and who we are going to cast out? Why do we think we can be a witness for Christ to the world, when we can’t even get along with eachother?
The Body of Christ needs a wake-up call regarding this very serious issue. If we can’t follow His instructions…well, I’ll let the Word speak for itself:
He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Amen…I remember a pastor sharing a vision that really moved me. This pastor was called to pray for the sick in a hospital. He entered the hospital and in the ward he saw some lying on the bed, few others on wheel chairs. As he moved forward towards them, the Lord took him into a vision and he saw Jesus lying on the beds and Jesus sitting on the wheel chairs…
Did you read Isaiah’s post? He’s written something that touches this point.
Sid
Comment Submitted: February 9th, 2008 at 9:20 am
It’s funny how that verse shows up again! It’s a ‘God-incidence’ again!
Personally, I think that this particular verse doesn’t just apply to our interaction with the Body of Christ, but also to the poor and destitute in our midst.
Jesus didn’t mandate that those who wanted to be healed, or see, or hear or cured of leprosy first become His disciples and follow Him. Whoever came to Him to be healed is healed.
We cannot be the light and salt of the earth if we only show such love, generosity and concern for fellow Christians. I noticed that He said ‘the earth’, meaning everyone, not just those who believe.
Shalom!
Comment Submitted: February 9th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Sicarii,
I was wondering what you were talking about, and then I read your latest post! Definitely a “God-incidence”. In fact, I got that story in my e-mail a few weeks ago, and was deeply moved by it.
I completely agree with you that this verse is not just dealing with those in the Body of Christ. In fact, Jesus even says “I was a stranger…”, so it is clear that Christians shouldn’t be the only ones we are lending a helping hand to.
Comment Submitted: February 9th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Great post keep on blogging
Comment Submitted: February 15th, 2008 at 12:24 pm