When Was It?
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was
it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you
something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed
you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or
in prison and visited you?'" (Matthew 25:37-39, NRSV) [1]
I read about Mike May who lost his sight when he was three years old. Forty
years later medical technology had created a way through surgery for him to
see. Even though his eye turned out perfect his brain could not always
recognize what he was looking at.
One day while walking down the sidewalk in a city he noticed something
there. It took him a little while but he finally figured out it was a
homeless person. Of course, he had heard of homeless people but while
walking downtown his dog guide had always led him around them. The day he
first saw this homeless person it really bothered him.
In the teaching from Matthew 25 Jesus is talking about separating the sheep
from the goats based on their actions. Both groups said they did not see
Jesus when he was hungry, thirsty, etc. Jesus did not mean that they saw Him
in those conditions personally but that those who help those who are in
those conditions are doing them to Him.
As we go through our day do we try not to see those who are hungry, thirsty,
sick, etc.? Do we say we don't see them because we don't want to be
bothered? Are we afraid that if we really did notice them it would bother us
like it did Mike May?
Prayer: Lord, please forgive us when we avoid seeing those who need our
help. Forgive us for our selfishness. Help us to see those we can help and
be willing to do what is needed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thought: Let us look to see those who need our help.
By Dean W. Masters
dwmasters@earthlink.net
Owner of the Masters List:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/masterslist Unedited redistribution
approved
[1]The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1989. Thomas Nelson
Publishers: Nashville