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.’ ^… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:36-40)

Your Encouragement

Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

These are words from our glorious Lord Holy Spirit, from the pen of His apostle to the Gentiles. We receive them as His encouragement today. Sometimes we think that all our good deeds go unnoticed. People are ungrateful. Some are irresponsible and want their way. They believe everybody owes them everything. Besides, the world is so uncertain and dangerous that we can’t be sure whom we should help or open our home to receive, which makes it difficult to help people. So, how can we know who to help and how far we should go to help them? How can we continue to do good and not give up?

 Jesus has much to teach us on this journey to glory. Prominent in His earthly ministry were His miracles, healing, feeding the crowds, and other good works He did. They were all undergirded by compassion and a quest for God’s glory. You look closely at His ministry and read this recurring phrase: “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them” (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; Jn. 11:33-35). These examples show that Jesus always felt for the people and had compassion for them. He never stopped to analyze the cause of the people’s misery and their motives, but that’s the challenge when we see a need we could meet. 

When His disciples saw the man born blind, His disciples speculated on the cause of his blindness (Jn. 9:1-34). They looked for probable cause (1), but Jesus was thinking about the Father’s glory (3). Filled with compassion and moved to reveal the glory of God in every situation, He did good, and that is our example.

We cannot always know the cause of everything or the motive of people. Who should we help, and how far? Our only help is the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit, who bears in us the fruit of kindness so we can have compassion for people and do acts that bring glory to God. If we start with the glory of God as our motive, His Spirit will lead and guide us. Is every needful situation excusable? I dare say, No! But, with the heart of Christ and the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit, we can weave our way through the maze for God’s glory. 

Always remember this. One day, our Lord, who sees and rewards, will say to you in heaven that whatever you did for one of the least of those His brothers and sisters, you did for Him (Matthew 25:36-40).

So, may He strengthen you as you embrace His word that encourages you not to be weary in doing good, for at the proper time, you will reap a harvest if you do not give up. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:9-10).