DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- JESUS IN HIS PEOPLE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – JESUS IN HIS PEOPLE

" 'I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me....And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." ' " (Matthew 25:35-36, 40)

It is a mysterious reality, but Jesus identifies with His people at such a deep level that He experiences what happens to them. When they suffer or are in need, He experiences their suffering and need. When they hurt, He hurts. He is not a God who is out there somewhere who is oblivious to what they are going through. He is intimately involved with His people. And when we minster to the needs of His people, we are ministering to Him. I don't know how it all fits together. I just know it is true.

The Apostle Paul is a prime illustration on the negative side of the issue. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute and kill Christians when the Lord Jesus appeared to him and confronted him with this question: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul asked, "Who are You, Lord?" The Lord answered, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:4-5). When Saul attacked the Believers, He was attacking Christ.

On the positive side, we get the privilege of ministering to Christ when we minister to His people – His brethren. This is not just doing good to anyone who is suffering. Jesus was clear that it was to His brethren, and He identified His brothers in Luke 8:21 as those who hear the Word of God and do it.

We get to minister to Jesus in a unique way when we minister to the needs of God's children. He is in the midst of His people and when we help other believers who are suffering, we are doing it to Him.

Love, Dad