Here I come Tuesday, and I am armed with prayer and a hot cup of Sunrise In Door County Coffee. I think I am ready to face the day and make a difference somewhere, somehow.
Throughout the last weekend I was worried about friends and family living in Florida. Hurricane Irma, which was very unpredictable unleashed a lot of fury across the Caribbean and then into Florida. This is a message to those who helped a neighbor or a loved one. Some of those I am writing about have a deep place in my heart. The majority of people try to do good and it is at times like this when we can see the best and the worst of people. Some people become hoarders and plain nasty when they are needed to help or to share. Others give of all that they have to protect, assist and render aid to those in need. I want to remind those who went above and beyond that when they open their homes, share their good fortune with others and show compassion, they are the examples who Jesus spoke of in the parable of the sheep and goats. Whatever you did to be kind and show love you did for Jesus.
Matthew 25:31-45 New International Version (NIV)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Those who looted for things they did not need, turned their backs on others, refused to share or erupted in anger at people who had needs ,you too are examples of the others who Jesus spoke of in the parable of the sheep and goats. In all honesty you passed up doing something for Jesus. If you are reading this, and it bothers you, I am not calling you out. It is the Holy Spirit asking you to change your attitude and follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Sheep or goat. Which one would you rather be?
Marty
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