Matthew 25:31-46 ~ Truly I tell you, whatever you did

Matthew 25:31-46 ~ (New International Version)

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.’
 

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

When we look at the subtitles used to explain the sections to us, this is typically labeled "Sheep and Goats." We could even subtitle this passage with biblical quotes like
"All Things are Possible with God"
or "Remember, Beloved, a Day to God is a Thousand Years".
 Why? Because God combines an amazing analogy for us in this section.

We can be more creative than that.... we'll call it.... "The Huge and the 'you' ". (There is a ewe joke in there....)

God, the Vast, The All Knowing, The Father and Creator of the Universe says to you - a speck of dust in this vast creation both in time and impact - says all of creation will see God's Glory. All of us. That is enormous. And says to the blessed - take your inheritance. Still God tells us - Nations (Nations!) will belong in Heaven.




THIS IS HUGE:

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

More than multitudes and millions of people, God knows and loves you intimately. 






THIS IS YOU.
 
Psalm 139:1-6

1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.


How does God want to see us?
Not doing whatever we want in impulse and then asking God why He didn't swoop in and fix us.

We cannot point to what everyone else does and say this makes all our attitudes and actions as all ok.
Cultural norm. In with all the people and imperfections.

Conversely, we cannot say that others are worse than we are so we are pure.

What does that mean to you today?
When you believe in your heart, proclaim with your voice that Jesus Christ is Lord. All who believe, trust and call upon the Lord will be saved. 

Matthew 10:7
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Maybe because God is God - we should put forth attitudes of working for God.
Giving thanks in all circumstances.
The People I see do this - GO FORTH in the Strength of God.

Keeping our eye on God and opening our hands to Him.


Father God, I cannot do all that is asked of me. I need Your help. I would never presume to wink at what is not good and say let this be ok in the Cheap Grace of Jesus.

I know I am broken and flawed. I know I need Your Help.

I do not want to say that when I walk away from a need in life that this is ok. I do not want to point at myself as falling in with the, "It's all ok crowd." Nor do I want to think You would not rush to offer assistance when assistance from Your child is asked.

Help us always to place Your Grace in the Appropriate Way. We want to be Centered on You, in courage and in determination. In Grace, belief and in our attitudes and actions. Expecting to encourage others to grow and pray for their opportunity and blessings as for our own. We ask in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

 

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