Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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OUR MISSION TO THE LAST, LEAST AND THE LOST
MATHEW  25:31-40
Vs. 40 “In as much  as  ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 
It is always amazing about the fact that Jesus, son of God and the great teacher, identified with those who are considered the least. This is so radically different from the world standard. The world see  people as resources, as whether you can benefit me or not. The world gathers around those who are great and neglects the marginalized. But Jesus who is truly the most influential and greatest personality that ever walked on the earth identified with the last, least and lost.
It is not just people who commit outwardly sins like murder and adultery, who are cursed in to the eternal fire. The people here are guilty for what they did not do. This really causes us to check the reality within our own heart.
The needy in our life  might be a friend who is sick, people with burdened or heavy-hearted or any type of need.  Each time we pretend not to see or hear or we do not respond to their needs or assume someone else will take care of it,  is a failure from our part to identify with Jesus and grieves the heart of God who wants to use us to be the agent of His love  and source of blessing. The natural attitude towards sins of omission is much like the response of the cursed,  “Lord, when did we see you hungry”. It is so easy not even know or recognize it.
Jesus never ceased to work, reach out and touch the people in his three years of ministry.  He  was without a doubt busy. So there is no time to relax. The reality is that there are so many who are needy and broken. The passage reminds us that there is much work to be done. Let us be faithful to each person that God brings in to our life. It also reminds us that there is no time to love. We must constantly fight against the passivity, laziness and self-centeredness within.
This is one of the most vivid parable and the lesson is crystal clear that God will judge us in accordance with our reaction to human need. His judgement does not depend on the knowledge we have amassed , or the fame we have acquired , or the fortune that we have gained, but on the help that we have given.
PRAYER
Loving God, help us to say ‘yes’ to the human challenges, make us the people who heal each other, who grow strong together, moving towards a common dream for a new heaven and new earth in the power of your love. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
 When we serve others, we serve God.
Rev. Saji Thomas, St. Thomas English Medium School, Surat.

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