“He Will Put The Sheep On His Right And The Goats On His Left”

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 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. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“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. 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, 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.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“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.’

Matthew 25:31-40

A friend of a newly retired man asked what the man was doing now that he was no longer working full time. The man said he visited people in the church, in the hospital, in prison, and went where he was needed. And he then noted that he enjoyed doing that.

Our ministry of visiting has two beneficiaries – the person visited and Jesus himself. To go to a person with help and encouragement is direct service to our Lord.

Is there someone who would be encouraged by your visit?

Compassion is understanding the troubles of others coupled with an urgent desire to help.

Our Daily Bread – February 10, 2015