YOU GOT SERVED

Reading this morning in Matthew 25, where Jesus was talking about the Judgement, viewing men as sheep and goats. God says basically, "you're in, because you saw needs in this world and served people. As my creations, when you serve people you serve Me." It reminded me of earlier in Matthew where Jesus says, "I didn't come to BE served, but TO serve, and to give my life as a ransom". So, wrap it all up together, being Christ-like means being a servant, obedient to God and meeting needs in this world, BECAUSE of the hope we have of the next. Man, I suck at that!

My wife and I have had the opportunity over the past 2 weeks to befriend and help out a family in need, and through the whole process I've seen just how crappy at serving I really am. It's not out of outright selfishness, more just out of discomfort and cynicism. My wife had a feeling she needed to go to a certain store (she had already been to), and met a single mom there, several kids at home, living in 1 room of someone's apartment, on one mattress, because they had fled from an abusive dad. She had a baby die this week, and is just in a lot of pain. My wife just instinctively jumped into action, but of course I am being all careful and verifying the story, all that kind of thing. Of course I want to make sure we're not being scammed, but seriously, this whole process has shown me just how hard my heart can be, when it actually comes time to put my money where my mouth is. Part of my prayer today is that God makes me more like Christ, and I guess I also want God to make me more like my wife....