Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Matthew 25 and Psalm 25

The three parables in Matthew 25 continue the theme of our calling to be faithful to the tasks to which Jesus has called us.

Our Lord Jesus calls us to remain faithful at all times. He calls us to be mindful that He is right at hand and that He will hold us accountable for what we have done with the Kingdom-responsibility He entrusted to us, and for how we have used the resources He entrusted to us to enable us to accomplish his purposes. Our service to the Lord Jesus is by no means inconsequential. On the contrary, it has eternal significance! So we would be exceptionally foolish to treat it lightly or irresponsibly.

The most striking truth of this chapter is the one Jesus announces through His parable of the sheep and goats. Every opportunity we encounter to minister to the legitimate needs of the “least important” members of His family, is an opportunity to minister to Jesus Himself. In his commentary, FF Bruce points out: “Though the Christian and Jewish brethren of Jesus may be first in mind, knowing the nature of Jesus, we can say that it does not exclude others. “The brethren are the Christian poor and needy and suffering, in the first place, but ultimately and inferentially any suffering people anywhere.”

Jesus Christ will most certainly return at the End of the Age, but He will also come to us today – in the disguise of someone with a need.

Life Application: Be attentive and alert today to the opportunity you might have to meet some legitimate need of another person (especially, but not exclusively, a fellow Christ-follower) with the resources Jesus has entrusted to you. Remember to see that person as though they were Christ Himself.