At the end of the world, when Jesus comes back and everyone is gathered to be judged, we’ll be separated into two groups. One group will be called blessed and told to enter into the kingdom prepared for them, because, Jesus says:
When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.
Matthew 25:35-36 (CEV)
The group will ask, “Lord, when did we do these things? When did we ever see You and minister to You?”
Jesus will reply:
Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.
Matthew 25:40 (CEV)
When you provide a meal for someone–a new mom and her family, a family who just lost a loved one, a person who doesn’t really have anybody to celebrate the holidays with, or just someone you know…
When you give a drink to someone–a little child, the person preaching the message, a friend who doesn’t have a drink with them…
When you welcome and are friendly to a stranger–whether it’s at church or somewhere else, whether it’s a friend of a friend or some random person, whether they’re Mennonite or not…
When you give clothes to someone–whether it’s in person or through Salvation Army, CAM, or some other organization…
When someone–a family member, friend, mere acquaintance–is not doing well (physically, mentally, emotionally, or finacially) and you take care of them, visit them, pray for them, help them out…
When you visit someone in jail…
It’s as if you’re doing it for Jesus.
