Dear Friends
Happy New Year!
“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.” (Jesus in Matthew 25)
Take a couple of moments to savour these verses, and what they tell us about the places where we are most likely to find Jesus. We will find him in the poor, the excluded and the vulnerable. Please don’t ever fall for the idea that if something goes well it must have God’s approval.
Jesus is telling us something about himself. If you want to understand Jesus: look to the cross. See what it tells you about the places you are likely to find him.
These verses in Matthew 25 are about the judgement of the nations. Jesus says that what matters is the way they treat the least of his brothers and sisters. Jesus has already said that his brothers and sisters are those who do the will of his Father in heaven.
Now, see if you can draw these thoughts together. Jesus is saying that if we do the will of God, we may end up poor, excluded or vulnerable. He tells us that at least some of us will go the way that he went.
Here’s my challenge to you as we start this New Year.
Where are you going to look to find the presence of Jesus?
In his grace
James
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