A Sheep or a Goat?

Matthew 25: 31-46   

 

  ³¹ "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

   ³⁴ "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

   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? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

   ⁴⁰ "The 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.'

   ⁴¹ "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

   ⁴⁴ "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

   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.'

   ⁴⁶ "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

      This is not a fun section of scripture to read.  I have to ask myself, almost daily, do I want to be seen as a sheep or a goat?

 

      These last six months have been an amazing time of study and reflection about what God has for the folks down in Tijuana, Mexico and just what part I am to play in all that.  I was able to travel to Haiti and had a great time, learning from my new friends on the team and taking in all that I could so that I might be better equipped to help the community near El Shaddai.  There have been moments where I would like to quit but then those verses call me on.  You can't see poverty like I have seen on these trips and not want to do something, anything to help.

 

      I recently had some phone calls to come and read the Sadie book and share with young people what it is like to live in an impoverished country.  I take this as God's whisper that I should continue on.  I have reacquainted with my good friend, Bonnie Kovacs Reihing, who has helped us raise over $500 to feed little kids!  Another young lady in our church, Marci Rames, has graciously and generously given me 10% of her earnings from a small business she started in her home making tutus for little girls!  I have seen anonymous donations all year long, and God clearly meeting the $500 goal every month for almost two years now. 

 

      Being a Christian isn't for quitters.  We are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned.  We are to be Christ's hands, feet, eyes and ears in this world.  I am privileged and honored to continue this work that He laid on my heart over six years ago.  Please continue to pray for His guidance and providence.  To Him be the glory - great things He has done!

 

      Praying that He sees a sheep when He sees you and me -