19 Jan 06 113768172299786498

I’ve had Matthew 25 on my mind a lot recently. You know how it is when out of the blue a particular Bible verse just pops into your head and you can’t shake it? Sort of like when you hear a song from Air Supply or Barney - you go to extreme lengths to extricate that song from your head.

In the end, with a Bible text that is, hopefully you give in and start listening to what God is trying to tell you. “Ok God, I’m listening,” I say as I wait to understand why these verses will not leave my mind.

Matthew 25:35-40 (NCV) I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then the good people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’ Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’

This is not a description of the ministries a church should have in order to truly be a church. I’ll save that discussion for another time. This is a description of the kind of people we need to be as followers of Jesus Christ.

Does my path regularly cross someone in need? I need to help them. Does someone I meet need food? I need to feed them. Does someone need medical attention? I need to help care for them. Does someone need to know they are not alone? I need to be there for them.

Will it be hard? Sometimes yes sometimes no. Will their be risk? Maybe, maybe not. Will my gift be appreciated? Yes and no. Will my gift be wasted or misused? Perhaps, but that’s not really my concern.

We can talk about the kind of church we need to be and the kind of programs we need to have until Jesus returns. I wonder if somehow our programs and ministries have occupied our time so much, have worn us out so much that we have not the strength or resources to respond with genuine simplicity to others.

I will make no significant impact in the lives of others unless I begin to view each person as Jesus and serve them as I would serve Jesus.