DECEMBER 22

CARE FOR All

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 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. 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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 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.’”

MATTHEW 25:31-40

Jesus will know you care for him when you care for others. There is a difference between the people of God and the people of the world. As a shepherd must separate sheep and goats, so too Jesus will separate the people of God from the people of the world, and the most telling distinction will be whether you cared for others.

When Jesus died and rose again he did so for every single person. He offered to every person a well that would never run dry. He offered to every person a hope that would never die. He made every single person equal by reminding us that we all fall short of the glory of God and are in need of saving. In Christ, we discover his humility, and should be brought to our own.

Are you meeting the needs of those around you? Are you actively inconveniencing yourself for the sake of those around you? Has life become a means of supplying your own desires, or for caring for others? May this Advent season be an encouragement as we seek to be a help to others. When Jesus comes, may we be people distinguished by how we cared for others.

goodness of god

Bethel Music

I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I’ve been held in your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God

all my life you have been faithful
all my life you have been so, so good
with every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

I love your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I’ve known you as a Father
I’ve known you as a Friend
I have lived in the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me