Matthew 25: The Least of These

 This morning I opened my Bible to Matthew 25. I have been reading through this gospel slowly and deliberately, as opposed to the Bible in a year plan I normally adhere to. I previously felt rushed, chaotic, and I was not able to walk away from my time in God's Word with a clear take-away. So, I just started to read Matthew. I have a Schuyler Wide Margin ESV Bible that I highlight, take notes in, and ask question on the pages. I might be romanticizing it, but I envision my son and or daughter reading my thoughts one day. I pray they learn a little bit more about God and their dad from my Bible. Maybe even my grandchildren will open it, Lord willing.

 As I read Matthew 25, I felt overwhelmed by this passage:

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 foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

 On my best days, I struggle to do any of these acts. I've never even been to a prison or invited a stranger into my house. The feelings of guilt, shame, confusion, incompetance, and failure rush to my mind. Am I actually a Christian? Is Jesus disappointed with me right now?

 I began to reread Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund this week after my time in scripture. In chapter 2, "His Heart in Action," he writes:

The cumulative testimony of the four Gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it.

 Jesus heart is so full of love, mercy, compassion, that he is drawn to sinners. I know this to be true because Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mk. 2:17). It clicked for me that the more I understand Christ's heart for me, his heart for the broken, his heart for the lost, the more my heart will overflow into action. Jesus said "you did it to me." My motivation must start with affection.

 Action and affection are not exclusive, they work together. Faith in Christ which is fueled by affection, must also be exercised with action. Today I am actively praying that I would see others the way Christ sees me and sees them. That I would be led by the Spirit out of my comfort zone, for the sake of others. The result will be God's glory, my good, and more faith in Christ fuled by affection for him.  God is after my heart, my motivations, my mind, my soul, my day. Most importanly he is after me. He will hold me fast. He will perfect my faith. He will sustain me. He will guide me. He will forgive me when I am disobedient. He will discipline me. He will form me into the image of his son. He will renew my mind. He is my good, good Father, who has prepared these good works in advance that I may walk into them.

 Today my prayer is that I be sensitive to the Spirit's leading me into them.