Christ Church Daily Devotion Dec 30 2023

In today's Daily Devotion, we read from Matthew 25:34-40 where Jesus talks about how taking care of others is like taking care of Him. When we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the needy, visit the sick and those in prison, we are actually doing those things for Jesus. It's important to serve and bless others, especially those in need. The hymn "Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service" is recommended for personal worship. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for December 30th, 2023. Today we will be reading from Matthew chapter 25, verses 34 through 40. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance. The kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in. I needed clothes, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you looked after me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. We looked at this whole story from Jesus two weeks ago. I offer just this portion of it today in light of our focus for this week. Have you ever considered this? When you make that contribution to the food bank, or help provide those meals for Mustard Tree Ministries, you are feeding Jesus. Or when you help welcome that new person or family into the church, or into your small group, you are welcoming Jesus. Or when you give those clothes to the person who has little, you are clothing Jesus. Or when you mentor at Walker State Prison, or visit with someone in any kind of prison, you are connecting with Jesus. Or when you help that person who is sick, you help Jesus recover. What's that you say? That you haven't really thought about any of that being for Jesus? Good. Sounds like you have the same motivation that the people in this story have. They weren't meeting the needs of people because they thought it was Jesus. They were just doing it because they cared about people, and were living the way Jesus taught all of us to live. The story reminds me that one of the best gifts you can give to Jesus each day is to do what you can do to serve and bless other people, especially those most in need. God bless you for the many times and ways you do just that. Today's personal worship option. One of the hymns in our United Methodist hymnal is titled, Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service. It's a prayer hymn written by Albert Bailey. Here is one of the verses of it for you to use as your prayer today. As we worship, grant us vision, till your love's revealing light, in its height and depth and greatness, dawns upon our quicken sight. Making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to tireless striving, your abundant life to share. Amen.