Devotion:
For an audio version of this devotion, click here.
Read Matthew 25:34-40.
We looked at this whole story from Jesus two weeks ago. I offer just this portion of it today in light of our focus for this week. Have you ever considered this: when you make that contribution to the Food Bank or help provide those meals for Mustard Tree Ministries, you are feeding Jesus? Or when you help welcome that new person or family into the church or into your small group, you are welcoming Jesus? Or when you give those clothes to the person who has little, you are clothing Jesus? Or when you mentor at Walker State prison (or visit with someone in any kind of prison), you are connecting with Jesus? Or when you help that person who is sick, you help Jesus recover? What’s that you say: that you haven’t really thought about any of that being for Jesus? Good; sounds like you have the same motivation that the people in this story have. They weren’t meeting the needs of people because they thought it was Jesus. They were just doing it because they cared about people and were living the way Jesus taught all of us to live.
The story reminds me that one of the best gifts you can give to Jesus each day is to do what you can to serve and bless other people, especially those most in need. God bless you for the many times and ways you do just that!
Personal Worship Option:
One of the hymns in our United Methodist Hymnal is titled “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service.” It’s a prayer hymn, written by Albert Bayly. Here is one of the verses of it for you to use as your prayer today:
As we worship, grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight, making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to tireless striving your abundant life to share. Amen.
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