12/4/2025
"...for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and
you gave Me Drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you
visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
Matthew 25:35-36
Winter is here, and in many places the snow is already on the ground. Temperatures have already been below zero degrees in northern areas of our nation. Sadly, there are many homeless on our streets, especially in more prominent areas of large cities, and the shelters do not have adequate room for everyone on the coldest of nights. Back in the day when my parents were growing up churches were more active in taking in people needing shelter, but today it doesn't seem to be the same. We have our programs and giving trees, adopt a family in need events, and give out food, perhaps on a weekly basis, but so much more is needed. Reaching out at Thanksgiving or Christmas with food and gifts, visiting prisons, nursing homes are all events done during holidays. People seem to be more concerned that pets are safely sheltered during the colder weather than human beings. This may sound harsh, nevertheless, it is true.
Tonight in my online study group we discussed the importance of having a grateful attitude, being aware of our blessings each day. One member who is a teacher shared that it was a scientific fact that anxiety can be turned around if we focused on things we are thankful for rather than focus on what is bothering us. So she suggests to her little students when one is a little anxious to make a list of things that they are thankful for which does the trick! It also makes one happy, and it sometimes brings laughter, but always, it changes our perspective on things. Proverbs 17:22 does say: "A merry heart does good like a medicine; but a broken spirit dries the bones." Making lists is always a good way to work out so many problems. I make it a daily habit to write down something good that happens each day. Then when I go back and look at it, it makes me remember pleasant times, and once again, I count my blessings.
Back in the 70's during the Jesus Revolution years when hippies were giving their hearts and lives to the Lord, desiring a change, to know the truth, hearts were tender towards others like themselves who needed Jesus. Keith Green, a young musician was one whose life was transformed during that time. In his memoir, Compromise, written by his wife Melody Green, she says that Keith would bring home young people needing a place to stay, and they would be sleeping on the floors, wherever there was space. He wanted to rescue as many people as possible, and he wanted to turn them on to God. He tragically died at the age of 28 along with two of their children, Josiah, 3 and Bethany, 2, in an airplane crash not far from home. Melody was left with Rebekah, age 1, and she was pregnant with their 4th child, Rachel. Melody continued the ministry they had started, Last Days Ministries. I got involved with the ministry later, giving out tracts, getting signatures for the Pro-Life Ministry, writing letters. It seemed that even back then I was busy writing trying to persuade people to stand for life. I also learned back then that not all who profess to know Christ understand that it is wrong to take a life, and that all life begins at conception. It's amazing to me how one connection can lead to another, then another, and soon I was all over the place. I guess it's no wonder that the same desires are still very much part of my life up to this day. I guess that must mean something, right?
The message Christ preached was one of love and compassion. He came to save the lost sheep of Israel, and later his love was extended to Gentiles as well. Today many people are actively spewing hatred for the Jewish people and for anyone who stands beside them. This brings tears to my eyes and breaks my heart, because the Bible is so clear. With Christmas approaching, and everyone who follows Christ anxiously awaiting the celebration of His birth, they fail to realize that He is indeed the King of the Jews as He said so very long ago. They also fail to understand that if it were not for the people of Israel, we would not have a Bible today. I do not understand how the church could stray so far from the truth, and even less do I understand that so many think that the church has taken the place of Israel. I've spoken on this so many times, and I hope that those who have read it will open their eyes and seek the truth, because it is the truth of God's Word.
The Bible is also clear as to what Jesus expects of all who follow Him with regard to the care and welfare of others. In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus is very clear about what He expects from those who follow Him:
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? when did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' 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?' The He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these , you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
These are sobering words spoken by Jesus, and we must take them to heart. Jesus said that we would be known as His disciples by our love for one another. In these troubling times, when it seems as if the world is going into hell in a hand basket, know that it is unless we as those who truly follow Christ do not step up and do as He commands. Because of God's mercy and grace given to us freely when we did not deserve it, so much more we ought to extend our hands in love and gratitude to others. Jesus also said that when it was in our ability to help another person, we should do it, without regret and expecting nothing in return. This season, the season of giving, instead of giving gifts that fade and wither away like grass, things most people really don't need, give the gift of life - your time. I'm still trying to find my way around Virginia again after so many years of being away, but perhaps there are doors that can be opened if we just look a little harder. I don't have all the answers, but I want to do something tangibly to help people who desperately need to see the love of Christ in action, not just on holidays, but each day of the year. I want to make a difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment