March 25, 2012

Life is a lot like Spring Break – you can go and serve others (like our team to North Carolina) or you can go and have fun (I will not name any names!) or you can sit around and do nothing! Today we wrap up the “Change the World” series with 4 great worship services at Wesley. We will have the family who is to receive the Habitat house in worship to address the congregation.

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus has been teaching in Jerusalem during his final week. He has told his followers that they must be watchful and ready for the Son of Man to appear. He used the example of faithful and unfaithful slaves in charge of a master’s household. He told them a parable about 10 bridesmaids – 5 who were ready with plenty of oil for their lamps, and 5 who were not ready for the bridegroom to appear. Immediately preceding these verses Jesus tells the parable of the talents, in which one man was given 5 talents, one was given 2, and one fellow given 1 talent. When the master returned, he rewarded his servants based on what they did with their talents. The guy who simply buried his was harshly reprimanded and his talent was given to the one who multiplied his.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.” (Verses 31-33) Certain people will be invited to come and inherit the kingdom, and certain people will be sent away into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. The criteria used are whether or not people fed, clothed, gave a drink, welcomed, cared for and visited Christ. When the people inquired about this, Jesus explained that it was in the persons of the needy that He was present.

Guide me Holy Lord today as I teach from your scriptures and apply this truth to our lives in 2012 as we have the opportunity to meet the needs of a hungry, thirsty, hurting world.