“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ (Matthew 25:44 NKJV)
We can no
longer serve our Lord as they did in the days of His flesh, when they
ministered to Him of their substance. But He has left behind His
representatives, and whatever we do for them He takes as to Himself. Therefore
we are debtors to all men; to every unit of the human family we must pay back a
proportion of our infinite debt to the Son of Man. (Matthew
The
dividing line hereafter will not be an intellectual one to follow not "How
much do you believe?" Not even a devotional one, "How much did you
pray?" But a practical one, "What did you do?" The Apostle James
shows that our faith is evidenced by our works (James
The Lord's
brethren are spread widely throughout the world. Whenever we meet the hungry
and thirsty, the stranger and the homeless, the sick or imprisoned soul, we
encounter one whom He calls "Brother" or "'Sister," and to
help any such is to send a thrill of joy through the soul of our Redeemer. We
must have the quick eyes of love to penetrate the many disguises that our Lord
assumes. It is said that when St. Francis was riding across a plain, he saw a
leper standing by the roadside, asking for alms. Dismounting, he not only gave
to him, but kissed him on the cheek. As he was riding away, he looked back, and
saw Christ Himself standing where the beggar had been, and he knew that he had
been permitted to kiss his Lord.
Notice that
the saints do not generally realize that they have done anything directly for
Christ: "Lord, when saw we Thee?" The beauty of goodness is its
modesty and unobtrusiveness, as the charm of childhood is its unconsciousness.
Notice, also, that in Christ's eyes, it is a crime not to do. Moses says that it
is wrong to do wrong; Jesus that it is wrong not to do right. Some were cast
away, as men reject weeds, not because they had violated the Ten Commandments,
but because they failed to fulfill the Law of Love.
Let us
consecrate ourselves to the service of men, women, and children for the sake of
Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.
PRAYER
Help us,
dear Lord, to minister to the needs of others, to care for the poor and needy,
the destitute and outcast, to show our love to You by our sympathy and help to
the least of Your brethren. I pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.
God's Daily Promise
Promise #254:
Reach out and you will touch Me for I am not far from you.
Acts 17:27 (WEB)
that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him
and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
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