SCRIPTURE: Matthew (NIV) 25:37 “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, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’…
45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
OBSERVATION: Jesus takes personally what we do for the poor and needy. We are to do it as unto Him and He takes it as if it were done to Him!
Matthew 6:2-4 tells us that our Heavenly Father is watching such ministry that is done in secret and He rewards it. But when such ministry is done to gain the praise of people than that becomes their “reward in full.”
APPLICATION: If that is the way Jesus takes such ministry, then we should minister to the poor and needy as though they were Jesus. For sure, they are not Jesus, but we should treat them with kindness and respect as we treat Jesus. We should honor the fact that they are the creation of God and bear His likeness and image. Even if they do not know that they are the creation of God and carry His image, we know and we should treat them accordingly.
PRAYER: Lord, your word says that we are not to do such ministry for the world to see, but we can be assured that our Heavenly Father is watching! (Matthew 6:2-4) And when He sees, He rewards! A reward from the Father is always much better than a reward from people. May we not settle for less than a full reward from the Father! Amen
Pastor Leon
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