Evidence of Love

“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 25:34-40 (NIV)

Does it seem impossible to love like Jesus? 

Today’s passage is from a story Jesus tells in Matthew 25. It is in a series of stories that Jesus tells to explain what the end will be like–when God returns and makes all things right. In this story, people are standing before a king who pronounces a judgment of blessing upon them.

The concept of judgment may seem uncomfortable to you, but for those listening to Jesus that day, judgment sounded like relief. When Jesus spoke of a righteous king sitting as a judge, the people knew it meant justice would be distributed. 

It also meant each person would be held accountable. The King would reward those who looked after the disadvantaged. In this passage, Jesus explains that one of the ways we show that we belong to Him is to care for those in need.

The Scripture says that evidence of our love for Jesus shows up in six ways: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, hospitality to the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and visiting those in prison. Jesus says when we do these things, it’s as if we were doing them for Him. 

Notice that the basis for receiving the King’s blessing was not church membership, tithing or religious knowledge. God blesses those who love and serve like Him. Being included in God’s kingdom means that we behave like Him: He feeds the hungry, satisfies the thirsty and shows hospitality to strangers. 

There are so many ways to love like Jesus today. Keep your eyes open to a stranger. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be interruptible for someone He brings across your path. Pay attention to a neighbor in need today. 

Your small acts of kindness are royal service to a King. As you love others, you can be confident both today and on the day you stand before the King because you are doing the works of your heavenly Father. You are loving like Him. And the King is ready to bless you. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I want it to be obvious that the way I live my life is a reflection of You and Your love. So with that in mind, I pray that You would give me opportunities this week to love and serve others so that they might experience the love of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.