Friday,
October 25, 2013 Jeff Lampl
As
I read the following words of Jesus it occurred to me that Jesus loves
goats too.
He loves them enough to give them a “tough love” talk.
Second,
in Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:9) to the “right hand of God” (the
control room of the universe) as Lord over everything (Psalm 110:1, Acts
1:32-36), His Lordship is now visible in the following passage where
Jesus, as Lord over all of the earth, judges the nations of the earth,
and by implication judges each of us.
Although
our entrance to heaven is by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9),
nevertheless there is some way in which we will also be judged by works
(2 Corinthians 5:10).
As
you read this incredible passage try to capture your thoughts and
feelings.
Do they leave you with a twinge of something in your “gut”?
If so, ask God to let it drive you to what He might want you to
do about it.
“But
when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,
then he will sit upon his
glorious throne. All the
nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the
people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place
the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“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, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“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, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)
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My "gut" says "inadequate, unworthy, guilty". It is not that I haven't done some "mercy things" but that I could of course do more.
ReplyDeleteIt used to be that Christainity was spelled "Done" . . . now its "Do"!
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