If you have been reading these daily devotions for any amount of time, you know that I just love my nieces and nephew. They are some of my very favorite people. When someone does something kind to them, I am delighted. It is almost like they have done the kind deed for me! Alternatively, when someone hurts them, I am hurt. Once again, it is as if they have done the hurtful deed right to me. Maybe you can relate when it comes to the children in your life. I believe this is a small picture of how Jesus feels about each person on this earth. As His beloved children, He is impacted by the way we treat His people.
To illustrate the truth that our kindness and service toward one another move Him, Jesus taught about what would happen in the future after His second coming in Matthew 25. He explained that He will be sitting on a throne, and every person would be gathered around Him. Then, He will separate people into two groups, one on his left and one on his right. To the group of people on His right, He will say, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world" (verse 34.). He will explain why. He will say, "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" (verses 35-36). These people will then ask when they did these things for Him. His reply will be, "When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" (verse 40). Jesus continued teaching, saying that those who refuse to serve the people around Him refuse to serve Him, too. It is clear from this story that Jesus is directly impacted by the way we serve those around us.
My friend, when you are serving the people around you, you are serving Jesus. Imagine the difference it would make if we remembered that truth every day. Imagine how we would love and serve. Imagine the impact we would have if every Christ-follower truly served others as if they were serving Christ! Let's start today by remembering that when we serve anyone on this earth, we are also serving Christ.
Memorize the verse of the day. Let this verse be a reminder to you every day. As you go throughout your day, bring this verse to mind. Let it guide all of your interactions with people today. Treat people the way you would treat Jesus if He were right in front of you. He cares deeply about the way you love the people whom you encounter.
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “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. 35 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. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “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? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “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!’
41 “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.42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 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.’
44 “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?’
45 “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.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
