Sheep and Goats

I don't think that it is a coincidence that the parable of the sheep and the goats was in our Bible Study last night. Last week as our church participated in Flower City Work Camp, one of the evening services focused on this exact Scripture. Maybe God is showing it to me repeatedly because there is a lesson to be learned here.

Sheep on the right, goats on the left.

^34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

^37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

I admit the next set of verses scare me a bit.

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'

⁴⁴"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

⁴⁵"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'

Are there people in my life that I am overlooking everyday? In James when it talks about judging those around us, what right do I have to judge? What makes me so special that I get to pick and choose who I am going to act kindly towards? God doesn't pick out the "good" Christians and make their lives wonderful filled with ponies and dancing around on clouds. He loves us all the same, extending love, mercy and grace to those who humble themselves before him. What right do I have to pick and choose who gets to also experience the love, grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness that I have experienced in Christ? Why should I even try to hold that back and keep it all to myself? Do I want to be a sheep or a goat?

I know that it is easier to write these things than to actually act upon them. I can write all this and say the good and right Christian things, but when it actually comes down to it, am I ready to change my selfish ways and love people the way that Christ loves me? God I ask that you would continue to help me in this. Help me not to pick and choose who I think you should love, but help me realize that you died for everyone! You love everyone more than I ever could. Help me to do my part in showing your love to each person that I encounter. Help me see Jesus in them and treat them as if they were Jesus with skin on. Help me to rid myself of my selfish ways. Thank you for your love and grace!

Matthew 25:31-46 (MSG)