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Religious
Serving God By Serving The Least
Part of the Christian faith is serving others. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve as He said in Matthew's gospel. This les- son, selected from Matthew 25:31-46, tells how Jesus will separate the people in the Kingdom. The people will be judged based upon their service. The peo- ple of God must not get set- tled in the church being a "pew warmer," but must be active in ministry through service.
Jesus says that when He comes into His king-
dom all nations will be gathered and He will separate them like a shepherd separates sheep from goats; the sheep on His right and goats on the left (vv. 31- 33).
Those gathered on the right will receive a blessing and those on the left will re- ceive condemnation. Be- cause of His sovereignty God (Jesus) is the only who is able to judge the world. No- tice there are only two cate- gories people will be divided into: sheep and goats. You
will fit either one or the other, there is no in-between. How a person lives will determine if they will be clas- sified as a sheep or a goat. Goats are more independent, while sheep stay all together in a flock. Goats are wild and live according to their own likings; sheep on the other are domesticated and require a shepherd. Goats will eat al- most anything, but the do- mesticated sheep prefers to
graze on grass.
How do you like to live?
God refers to His people as sheep because they rely on Him to be their shepherd. They look for Him to lead them in green pastures to graze and they stay together as a people. Sheep follow the direction of the shepherd.
The standard that God sets is service. Jesus tells why the sheep on the right hand will be blessed and the goats on the left will be con- demned. Both groups had the same opportunity. Everybody will be provided
with an opportunity to serve God through serving others. Goats don't recognize the op- portunity because they act in isolation.
Jesus says the opportu- nity to serve was when He was hungry, thirsty, a stranger (vs. 35,), naked, sick, and impris- oned (vs. 36).
When you see an individ- ual or individuals in these situations this is an opportu- nity for you to do something major for the Kingdom of God and to serve the King. The king Himself will not be in these situations because He is king.
However, when you do it for the least of the peo- ple (vs. 40), you have done it for Him. The ones who you do it for is not limited to those who are in the church or "saved." God loves and cares for all, even those who do not care for Him.
Those who serve God by serving the least will be in- vited to come closer to Him
(vs. 34). Those who have lived a life of service will be invited to be a part of a greater inheritance. The in- heritance you will receive will be far greater than the food, water, or clothes that you provided for someone in Jesus' name.
When you see a person who appears to have fallen on hard times, think of that encounter as an opportunity to show your identity. Help- ing or serving will put you into the category of a sheep; ignoring them and not mak- ing any effort to provide aid will get you into the goat group.
You serve God who is in heaven by serving those who are on the earth. You serve not because you want to be blessed, but you serve be- cause you are blessed. God has blessed you by saving you and calling you His child. Show your love for God by serving and helping others.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B