Our scripture this morning is Matthew 25:40 (NLT).
And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”
Jesus tells us that when we care for one another, we are showing our love for Him. We can’t directly help or give anything to Jesus; instead we demonstrate our love for Him to those who desperately need Him in their lives. He told us before He sacrificed Himself for us “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35).
Bringing comfort to one another is part of that process. Paul writes “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Perhaps we can’t solve the problem by ourselves, but we can be part of the solution.
Every effort we make on behalf of our brothers and sisters is a step toward a better world for all. Jesus knows we can’t do all the things He does but we can love as He does by sharing our gifts and the Good News of His coming. He says when we do this for those in need “you were doing it to me!”
Gracious God, You have called us to love one another as You first loved us. Help us to hear the needs of those around us and use what You have blessed us with to care for all Your children. Amen.
