My Favorite Parable

Matthew 25:31-46

New International Version (NIV)

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
³⁴ “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. ³⁵ 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, ³⁶ 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.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “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.’
⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This is my favorite parable. It was the first Bible Study I had when I joined my new church. it spoke to me and let me know how selfish I have been all my life. Instead of just living.. and Living for myself and my family.. I... err.. WE should be living for the Lord. To PROVE to him that we love HIM we should be being selfless. We should be thinking of Others, We should be sheep.. When someone needs clothes we should give them. Now this is  not saying run to Walmart and start buying everything they have so you can give it to the poor.. NO.. it means If you have extra clothes that you may have grown out of, or Your kids clothes they grew out of.. Give them to the Rescue Mission! IF someone is Hungry.. Make some food and take it to the Rescue Mission! They Will Never turn away some good food! If you See someone that needs Help Direct them to the Rescue Mission so they can be directed to where they CAN get help! Now.. with how dangerous the times are Don't just Invite people into your home unless you know you and your kids are safe. YOU get what I'm saying.. Every time you help someone.. You are helping a brother or sister of the Lord. YOU are PROVING to him that you Love him. Be Selfless. 

The Sheep are the people that selflessly Help one another without having to be told. You do it out of the kindness of your heart.

This Parable just speaks to me.. and tells me I should be helping others.. I want to help others because... I want them IN turn to become sheep.. Pay it forward.. I was helped by a few when I was recovering from surgery.. THEY were selfless and Cared about me and my family. Its my turn.

Hugs!
Leslie

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for Loving Us Unconditionally. Thank you for your Selflessness. You Watch over us and You know what is best for us. I Ask you watch us and Guide us as we Journey on our Paths You have laid out for us. Help each and everyone of us to loyally serve YOU. Help us to understand that Serving Others is the Way to God. Guide us to Be sheep and Not Goats. We Love you. In your name we Pray. Amen.