Scripture for today – Matthew 25:37-40; 45 (NIV)
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? 39When did we see you sick or in
prison and go to visit you?” 40The
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.” 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.”
I grew up in a railroad town in
northeastern Pennsylvania in the late forties through the fifties and into the
early sixties. This was well past the heyday of hobos but especially in the
early years there still were itinerant workers who moved from place to place by
hopping freight trains and our house was within easy walking distance of the
railroad yards. Although I have vivid
memories of this happening only twice, conversations with my siblings lead me
to believe it was not uncommon for one of these men, being hungry and without
resources, to come to our back door and ask for food. The memory of my mom making a sandwich and
pouring a steaming cup of coffee for a man in need was burned into my soul at
an early age. This act of obedience is
something she learned from her parents during her childhood. This is something I try to practice and
hopefully have passed on to my daughter.
St Paul United Methodist Church offers
multiple opportunities for us not to seek our salvation but to demonstrate
it. Back pack buddies; the hopefully
only temporarily suspended, Living Well Ministries; The Lord is My Help;
Seashore Missions. I have found that my
participation in these activities has helped me far more than those whom I have
served.
Prayer – Our
Father in Heaven, we praise your holy name.
We thank You for the opportunities You provide for us to be Your agents
here on earth to bring physical and spiritual recovery to Your hurting
children. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN
Thought for today – “If not me, then who?”
