The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "The Lord’s Good Work" for Monday, 12 June 2017 - Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "The Lord’s Good Work" for Monday, 12 June 2017 - Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, accompanied by all the angels, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. 33 The ‘sheep’ he will place at his right hand and the ‘goats’ at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 36 I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, ‘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 make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’
41 “Then he will also speak to those on his left, saying, ‘Get away from me, you who are cursed! Go off into the fire prepared for the Adversary and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 a stranger and you did not welcome me, needing clothes and you did not give them to me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needing clothes, sick or in prison, and not take care of you?’ 45 And he will answer them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you refused to do it for the least important of these people, you refused to do it for me!’ 46 They will go off to eternal punishment, but those who have done what God wants will go to eternal life.”
-------Give to those who ask, and don’t refuse those who wish to borrow from you. [Matthew 5:42 (CEB)]
One day as I was leaving the grocery store, a man recognized me from my teaching days. He introduced himself and asked if I could give him a lift to a nearby gas station. On the drive he told me about his broken truck and that he needed to borrow a little money to tow it to his buddy’s shop, where it would be fixed for free. Upon arrival, he asked to borrow just a bit more money for gas. I thought, Why does he need gas for a broken truck?
This man had asked for a ride, money, and finally more money. I said a silent prayer and gave him more than he asked for. He thanked me profusely and promised to pay me back with interest. As I drove off, I felt I had been conned.
Not until I prayed out loud, “Lord, help that money to do good,” did I feel better about the situation. It didn’t matter whether he was telling the truth about the truck. One of God’s children was trying desperately to make it in the world — and he had asked me for help.
I have come to understand that helping someone and then expecting something in return is doing business, not showing God’s love. I pray that my act of compassion did what it was meant to do: the Lord’s good work.The Author: Will Pepper (Mississippi, USA)
Thought for the Day: Showing God’s love through acts of compassion is its own reward.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us overcome our harsh judgment of others, and show us how to help when you call us to give assistance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer focus: To show compassion, not judgment
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