Do You See What I See?

"Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’  Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'" - Matthew 25:44-45

I was scrolling through my Facebook, oh what is the word,  uh "wall" I think. I saw a post about a development in Florida in an area that was largely untouched by the recent hurricanes.  Life as "normal" for those folks. And yet, not far away from there, life is far from normal.  The world for many people has been turned upside down. Scraping by from check to check, month to month. Living in conditions that many would consider to be un-livable. Happy to have a roof over their heads, even if it leaks - willing to breathe in mold spores every night while they sleep in that house because homelessness is their only other choice. 

I find that most people prefer to be voyeurs. Not the perverted kind - but people who see or are, at least, aware of the trouble others face and yet they "walk on the other side of the road". They think it is a shame it happened, but it really is not their problem. But Jesus brings it into perspective for us. When we ignore those people or dismiss their trouble as of no business of ours, we dismiss Jesus. What! Oh we would never want to do that! So we compromise. Tell you what - I will pray for them. Or at least think about them - even though that thought doesn't last any longer than the next news story. 

We have been considering going to Florida to help there - actually the consideration is over. The decision is made. I have been painfully aware that while we deliberate over it - people are struggling every day. Martie and I are not super heroes - far from it. We know that if God calls us to some place on this planet - He is already there and He is the Provider. He doesn't need us, but He chooses to use us. He always calls you and me to do more than is humanly possible because He will do a work through us and in us. 

It was not that those people Jesus was talking to did not see the need in Matthew 25 - it is that they didn't care about other people - remember the second greatest commandment. Loving others is a result of our first loving God. And just like James said about faith, faith without works (the natural product of faith) is a dead faith. If we fail to love others then it reveals a lack of love for God - which is the first greatest commandment.

"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." - 1 John 4:20

Hmmmm! Not much wiggle room there. I guess the bottom line is this Christian. Don't do what I do. Do what God tells you to do - whatever that is. Don't harden your heart to others. Soften your heart toward God and then yield to His leading. Then you will here the Spirit say - 

"This is the way, walk in it" - Isaiah 30:21

Open you ears so you can hear and your eyes so you can see. 

"Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear." - Matthew 13:14-16

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone