WATCHWORD:
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.’ Matthew 25:35-40
Meditation:
By Our Love
Years ago, when I was living in Cincinnati, I had a friend and colleague who told me, much to my surprise, that she wasn’t a believer in Christ. She actually said, “I think I’m an atheist, or an agnostic.” There was doubt in her voice, but that is what she thought.
I found that hard to believe, knowing what I knew about her, her work in the community and in the city. She had retired from her teaching career early, and dedicated her time and resources to reaching out and helping the disadvantaged. She was a regular volunteer in one of the soup kitchens, she visited homeless camps and spearheaded drives to collect food and clothing for their needs. She was available as a tutor (free of charge) to children of families of limited means. She isn’t just a good person, she is an actively good person who seeks ways where she can make a difference, and she does. This person, who does not want anything to do with religion or Christianity, is, nevertheless, acting out Christ’s love in a very real and substantive way. “They will know we are Christians by our love.”
People who live their lives acting out love for others, looking for all the world like Christians, and yet disavow that label, Christians, what are they? What did Christ say? “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. So, I ask you, is my friend a Christian, even though she denies that label?
I have fellow Christians who would say No! Absolutely not! They might ask, was she baptized? Or, does she attend church? Has she accepted Christ? I hear them saying, if she doesn’t believe A, B and C she can’t be a Christian. To my skeptical ear, that sounds like an ancient rabbi checking off Judaism laws #611 through #613. Sounds like membership in an exclusive club, rather than a life lived in love.
What am I to say? In my heart, I believe that Christ is at work in her. Did you get that: Christ at work in her? Again, I hear Christ say: “…for I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.” I’m proud to say, That’s my friend! That’s who she is, that’s what she does.
As a young college administrator with my career stretched out before me, I worked at being a “good person,” on campus and in the city where I lived, and where I met that friend. I went through all those motions, the volunteering, the visiting, the reaching out, etc. I was a “preacher’s kid”, I knew all about the church and all the things you gotta do to be a Christian. I didn’t jump through all the denominational hoops, but I convinced myself that I was a good person and, of course, knew that I was a Christian. I didn’t need the church to tell me or show me how to be a good person, I just was, end of story!
Funny how God has a way of opening our eyes. Showing us that the “acts of a good person” too often are show and tell, with no substance. Life came crashing down around me and my family and it was Christ that responded to my “Help me, Lord” cry — The “birth pangs” of becoming a true Christian. Christ in the form of a friend, a church, a pastor, and my family. My good works didn’t rescue me, Christ did!
While I still admire my friend, the atheist, I see her way of following good works and what my Lord and Savior has taught me…both carry some of the same characteristics…people are clothed, and fed, and visited, and her style fits what she believes, but I wonder: self-serving? Show and tell? Not for me to judge. As for me, I learned that my life is richer and fuller when I follow Christ. I learned something else, what my friend misses is of eternal importance when she leaves Christ out of her equation. What I know is simply this: Jesus Christ is Lord of All. Put a period there! So be it, my friends.
They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the LordAnd we pray that our unity will one day be restoredAnd they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our loveYeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by sideAnd we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s prideAnd they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our loveYeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Deepen Our Love:
Dear God, Thank you that you are a loving, gracious God. Thank you that you’ve offered us forgiveness and the gift of new life in you. Thank you that your love is perfect, it never fails, and that nothing can separate us from your love.We pray that our lives would be filled and overflowing with the power of your love so we can make a difference in this world and bring honor to you. We ask for your help in reminding us that the most important things are not what we do outwardly, it’s not based on any talent or gift, but the most significant thing we can do in this life is simply to love you and to choose to love others. Lord thank you that your love is patient. Help us show patience with those around us. Lord thank you that your love is kind. Help us to extend kindness to others. Lord thank you that true love is not jealous. Help us cast aside feelings of jealousy or hatred towards others. In Jesus name we pray Amen.
