Theme of the Week: Seeking First the Kingdom
Bible Verse: “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:40
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
Many of the restrictions around COVID-19 are aimed at protecting the most vulnerable people in society. Social distancing is ultimately about working together to keep the virus away from those who are more likely to have this result in a serious illness. But social distancing alone is not what matters during this season. We need a full picture of love for them.
One of the distinguishing features of people who are seeking first the kingdom of God is that they are committed to helping the most vulnerable people.
In Matthew 25, Jesus gives a very direct description of a day when He will bring all nations before himself for a final judgment. He describes a great separating of people that will occur as the shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. Today, goat often stands for “greatest of all time.” This is not the kind of goat Jesus is referring to.
Instead, Jesus is looking for evidence of people who are seeking first His kingdom. In the mind of Jesus, this is a lifestyle of loving the most vulnerable. Everything we do to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the poor, care for the sick, and spend time with those in prison is a direct reflection of our love for Jesus. Jesus feels so strongly about this that He views our love for the most vulnerable as the same as loving Him (Matthew 25:40).
Caring for the most vulnerable requires selfless decisions. It is an act of love with a promise of something greater ahead. Jesus says that his true sheep will “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
During COVID-19 (and beyond), may our love for the most vulnerable people in society grow in practical expressions of God’s love for them. Today, ask God to give you names and places where the most vulnerable may be found in your life. Be a man who seeks first the kingdom of God and show love for those people God brings to mind.
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