Doing it unto Me

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' Then they themselves also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Matthew 25:31-46)

This scripture teaches, in dramatic fashion, how we treat others is precisely how we treat our Lord. In the parable, both the sheep and the goats have the same reaction, neither is aware that their deeds are done, with Jesus as the actual recipient. Whether they did good deeds or they did nothing at all, neither was aware God was standing there. If they would have, the outcome would have been much different.

Just imagine if Jesus ran into you in traffic? And I mean Jesus "ran into you".. What if He rear-ended you at an intersection? I know, I know- you're thinking Jesus would never do that! Well, simply for the sake of argument, what if He did? Would you get angry at Him? Would He hear you say a few choice words for destroying your brand new car? Okay, I know that's a weird example, but it’s simply to make a point. How we treat others IS how we treat the Lord. The truth of this parable is well-founded in God's Word..

In Proverbs 19:17, it says "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed". And in Proverbs 12:14, it says "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, and the deeds of a man's hands will return to him". In Colossians, Paul said this "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father".

To do something "in the name of" means to do the deed as if you were doing it for someone else. For example, you tell your friend Joe about a good mechanic you know. The next day Joe takes his car into the guy’s shop, and mentions he knows you. The mechanic tells Joe anyone who's a friend of yours is a friend of his. He then does a great job fixing Joe’s car and even gives him a huge discount on the work. In other words, he treats Joe like he would have treated you. That’s doing something “in the name of”..

In Matthew 10:42, Jesus said "Whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward". And in Mark 9:41, He said "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward". And in Luke 6:38, Jesus gave another example "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return".

I want to take these words to heart, to live these words in real-time, to let all my deeds be done for Him. Not so I can gain some reward, but so I can bring God pleasure. To do that is the greatest reward of all.

This poem has always been one of my favorites. I’ve updated a few minor words into modern English for clarity. It’s an excellent poetic story, illustrating the truth what we do for others, we’re doing unto Him.

How the Great Guest Came - by Edwin Markham

It happened one day at the year's white end --
Two neighbors called in on their old-time friend;
And they found the shop, so meager and mean,
Made bright with a hundred boughs of green.
Conrad was stitching with face ashine,
But suddenly stopped as he twitched a twine:

"Old friends, good news! At dawn today,
As the cocks were scaring the night away,
The Lord appeared in a dream to me,
And said, `I am coming your Guest to be!'
So I've been busy with feet astir,
Strewing the floor with branches of fir.
The wall is washed and the shelf is shined,
And over the rafter the holly twined.
He comes today, and the table is spread
With milk and honey and wheaten bread."

His friends went home; and his face grew still
As he watched for the shadow across the sill.
He lived all the moments o'er and o'er,
When the Lord should enter the lowly door --
The knock, the call, the latch pulled up,
The lighted face, the offered cup.
He would wash the feet where the spikes had been,
He would kiss the hands where the nails went in,
And then at the last would sit with Him
And break the bread as the day grew dim.

While the cobbler mused there passed his pane
A beggar drenched by the driving rain.
He called him in from the stony street
And gave him shoes for his bruised feet.
The beggar went and there came a crone,
Her face with wrinkles of sorrow sown.
A bundle of firewood bowed her back,
And she was spent with the wrench and rack.
He gave her his loaf and steadied her load
As she took her way on the weary road.

Then to his door came a little child,
Lost and afraid in the world so wild,
In the big, dark world. Catching it up,
He gave it the milk in the waiting cup,
And led it home to its mother's arms,
Out of the reach of the world's alarms.

The day went down in the crimson west
And with it the hope of the blessed Guest,
And Conrad sighed as the world turned gray:
"Why is it, Lord, that your feet delay?
Did you forget that this was the day?"

Then soft in the silence a Voice he heard:
"Lift up your heart, for I have kept my word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with the bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street!"

Be Quiet and Listen

In Mark 4:35-41, it says.. And on that day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" And they became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

Very good question- who is this, that the wind and sea obey Him? In Psalms, that question is answered, not once but three different times. First in Psalm 65:7 "Who dost still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves and the tumult of the peoples". Second, Psalm 89:9 "Thou dost rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves rise, Thou dost still them". And in Psalm 107:29 "He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed".

The Psalms were very well known during the time Jesus walked the earth. No doubt the disciples had heard these verses. This event hit them like a ton of bricks. This man just did something only God can do! No wonder they became very much afraid!

The great thing about this story is- not only can our Lord still nature's storms, he can also take our hearts, full of fear and anxiety, and boldly say "Hush, be still". And just as quickly, all is peaceful and quiet. After all, He is the Prince of Peace.

In Psalm 131:1-2, David writes "O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother".

In that passage David says he doesn't involve himself with "things too difficult". In other words, he avoids things that lead to stress and confusion. If he were alive today, he wouldn’t be the type of person to watch too much TV. I'll bet he'd prefer to lie down in green pastures and walk beside still waters. In other words, David was a man who liked the quiet. He spent much time in quiet reflection.

How about you? Do you take time out of your day to get quiet and listen to God? Or is your life more like a raging storm, noisy and battered about at every turn? If so, good news- there’s hope. Jesus is still the one who calms the sea and wind.

In Lamentations 3:25-26, it says "The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD".

If you really want to make the heart of God happy, seek His face with a sincere, earnest, hungry heart. Get quiet, let the stillness of the moment envelope you. If you can’t seem to find that quiet place in your heart, allow Jesus to speak to the raging storm and say “Hush, be still”. God’s Word promises “the Lord is good to the one who seeks Him”. It’s “good to wait quietly for the Lord”.

Spending Time

Every Saturday night, a man takes his girlfriend on a date. They spend one or two hours, either going out to dinner or a movie. Immediately after the date, he takes her home. They might exchange a few kisses at the end of the date, or they might not. And every night, well not every night.. it might only be three or four nights a week.. he calls her at approximately 10pm. He spends five to ten minutes talking mostly about himself, about his fishing trip that day, or the ball game he went to with his friends, then yawns, says he’s tired and how he needs to get some sleep. This same routine goes on for 10 years. Finally the woman asks the dreaded questions- Where is this relationship going? Are we going to get married or what? I’m tired of only seeing you one or two hours every weekend. Without blinking an eye, the man replies “I’m sorry, but I’m just way too busy to get married”. What do you think she would say?

Everyone knows, there’s not a woman on earth that would put up with a fool like that. Yet we somehow expect God to be content when we spend 5 minutes reading our Bible, or when we offer a few bless-me prayers right before bedtime. That’s equally as foolish.

Reality is- God wants an intimate loving relationship with each one of us. But we need to make time for Him. I’m not saying we can’t enjoy our hobbies, but we shouldn’t let them become idols in our lives either. If we really want to know God ways, we need to spend time with Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Blessed is the man

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

This scripture means a great deal to me. When I was 21, my father and step-mother gave me a poster, showing a young man reading his Bible, with a look of reflection on his face, as if he were in deep thought.. In the background of the poster were the words to Psalm 1. I’m not quite sure what happened to that poster in the many times I’ve moved since. But I can vividly remember something that happened a few years ago, relating to that poster..

During my morning devotion, I was in somewhat of a spiritual wrestling match with God. Guess you could say I was in “complaint mode”. I was complaining to God that it wasn’t fair, how my morning quiet times were always so special, how He always blessed and my day always started out so well. But then as my day wore on, I felt drained and dry and battered about. And by the time my day was over, I felt like God was nowhere around.

Then God reminded me of that poster. What did that psalm promise? That if I’d truly meditate on God’s Word day and night, I’d be like a tree, with leaves that never wither? To be quite honest, even when the Lord reminded me of that poster and that psalm, I still objected, telling Him I really didn’t see how that was possible. God, how can I really think about Your Word day and night? There are so many other things always demanding my attention. Then I heard that still small voice challenging- Are you saying it’s not true? I had to admit to God- No, Your Words are always true, I’ve simply never acted on them.

I was reminded of what Jesus did in the wilderness, when he was tempted by the devil. I’d always thought of that story in the wrong way, as if Satan were actually standing there in the flesh tempting Jesus. It’s highly more likely Jesus was tempted like you and I are, with evil, foolish thoughts coming to us out of nowhere. If Jesus was tempted in all things as we are, then it only makes sense he was also tempted in the same way we are. But more importantly, how did Jesus respond to these temptations? He always replied with God’s Word.. Thinking of that truth made me reflect, what if I memorized scripture, put the Word of God down inside me, so when foolish thoughts hit me, I reply the same way?

From then on, I’ve tried my best to make meditating on God’s Word my main priority. I’ve learned by practice and experience, you can digest scripture and reflect on it over and over, to the point where it becomes part of you. I find myself thinking about scriptures on the drive to work, walking down the hallway, as I wake or drift off to sleep.

I find myself seeing things in scripture I’d never seen before. The Holy Spirit has a way of illuminating each verse, expanding its meaning. The fact is- putting scripture inside your heart really does make a difference, not only in your daily walk, but in your devotional time as well. Now I don’t just read my Bible. I read, meditate and digest it. It’s not a duty, it’s a privilege.