Be Compassionate

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Stand Firm

Matthew 25:31-40

The Message

The Sheep and the Goats

^31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

^34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

^37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

For Reflection

None  of us will ever know just how we have influenced others.  A kindness to one is multiplied as a kindness passed on to another.  Sadly, a dis-service to one may be passed as a dis-service to another.

To those who live God-centered lives, compassion becomes so much a part of their being that they to not recognize that their compassionate lives are extraordinary.  Like the sheep they ask, "When did I do these things?"  They live their lives unaware that their expressions of hospitality are anything but a normal, natural way of being.

Pray

that you will live a life of mercy, a compassionate servant to all.