Monday, March 25, 2013

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Monday, March 25, 2013   My Final Words About the Kingdom

Part 3: The Final Judgment         

Page 251-252         Matthew 25:31-46

In the parable of the Sheep & Goats, the Judge is Jesus, who in Matthew 8:20 had nowhere to lay his head, and is now seated on the throne as King. This is Jesus, who in Matthew 12:24 was accused of being the devil, and is now reigning as Lord of Lords. This is Jesus, who in Matthew 13 was rejected, even in his hometown, and is now the Judge of the entire world.

Consider the people represented as sheep. When they saw someone in need they offered assistance. They didn’t throw money at the problem. They didn’t send someone else. They offered their hand, gave their water, they touched and bandaged the wounded and they listened with compassion. They served because service was needed, not to be noticed or rewarded. They served because God created us to be in community and to care for one another.

Consider the people represented as goats. They saw everything the sheep saw, but they didn’t help. The goats tell the Judge they didn’t see the need. The Judge will say, ‘Yes, you did and “when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me’” (Matthew 25:45). The goats will tell the Judge they were afraid to serve. The Judge will say “I gave you the power to overcome your fear and you didn’t accept it.” The goats will have lots of excuses. The Judge will say, “Spend your eternity in the fear and greed you chose for yourself.”

This is not a parable about some getting rewarded for good deeds, and some getting punished because of the good deeds left undone. Ultimately, this is a parable about allegiance. In the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus, the rich man was a Jew and he knew Father Abraham. He also knew the “beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:19 NIV). The rich man chose his own self-interest over and above the need of Lazarus. In the final judgment, Lazarus “died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead” (Luke 16:22-23). At the end of time, it is not a matter of who we say we are; it is a matter of whose we are. Those who actually align themselves with the King will reflect the King’s goodness.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:3-5a NRSV).

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The second edition of my book, First Think – Then Pray has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGQL5JC

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Tuesday, March 26, 2013  Judas Betrayed Me

Page 255      Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16; Mark 14:1-2, 10-11; Luke 22: 1-6