Tag Archive | when did we see you hungry and feed you

Our beautiful compassionate King!

Dec11

In our world we see people doing all kinds of evil things in the name of their religion. On a daily basis we hear of people being beheaded, persecuted and murdered by all kinds of vile methods for not converting to radical Islam. People trying to force another by violence to adhere to their twisted ideology. Amid all of this, I am so grateful that we who are followers of Jesus Christ serve a Savior and Lord that does not require that we use violence to draw people to Him. He requires love! How awesome is He! He tells us to let our light shine, He tells us to let the world see His love for them through us! He tells us that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick and give water to the thirsty we are doing it to Him!  Matthew 25:31-40 NIV 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.’

In the book of Mark we see our beautiful Lord and King healing the leper after being moved with compassion. Mark 1:39-42 NKJV 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Jesus, the Son of God, the Holy One, the King of Kings was moved with compassion! What a beautiful picture of our Jesus! A King who feels for the cast offs of society and is moved to save, heal and deliver them! A King who does not see class distinction. A King who does not wish any should spiritually perish! A King that is moved with compassion!

Today let the reality of the character of Jesus sink into your heart. Ask Him to give you a heart of compassion for those who are lost, sick and bound. Ask Him to guide you in reaching out and sharing the good news with those who so desperately need to hear it! Let His love and compassion shine through you this Christmas season!

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Are you using your freedom for good?

Jul5

  I love the summer. In Canada, we seem to wait so long for it to arrive and when it does I try and enjoy every minute of it as I know it will only be for three months and then the cooler temps will come. I love watching our vegetable garden grow, our flowers bloom and all the wildlife I see on my way to and from work. Yesterday I saw a deer and a rabbit on my way to work and a few snapping turtles and squirrels on my way home. I am blessed to live in this free country where I can enjoy a job of my choice, my family has freedom to make choices of their own and I am able to worship God freely and openly. Our freedom is an awesome blessing.
I am also aware that with this freedom comes a responsibility to help out those who don’t have this freedom. There are people all over the world that are happy to have a cup of clean water and the tiniest bit of food even once a day. There are brothers and sisters in Christ, all over the world, that have absolutely no freedom to openly read their Bibles, have fellowship or worship God. There are brothers and sisters world wide that are currently suffering enormous persecution for their decision to follow Christ. Some are imprisoned, some have lost their jobs and families for standing up for Christ, some have died because they have refused to recant their faith in Christ.

My prayer is that this year and each and every year ahead, should Christ tarry, I want to become more like Christ and use my hands and feet to help those in need. It may mean sharing produce from my garden. It may mean helping another in need with chores. It may mean interceding for another in prayer. It may mean sending financial help to others in need. It may mean sharing the gospel with those who haven’t heard. There are so many ways, we who are free, can be working for Christ and fulfilling the great commission.

Lord, from this moment on, let me never take for granted all that you have provided for me and mine. Let my heart be sensitive to you and obey you when you impress upon me to do your labor here, regardless of the form it takes.
Let me be your hands and feet in the world I live in!

Matthew 25:35-40 NIV 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.’

James 2:14-17 NIV 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

1 John 3:17 NIV 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,how can the love of God be in that person?

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