"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory." (Matthew 25:31)
"The throne of His glory," here is a throne of judgment. Matthew 25 is a passage which deals with people who should have been about serving but did nothing. The foolish girls, in the face of a door about to close, attempted to depend on others for preparations they should have made. The fearful steward just lived a life of excuses, "I was afraid," rather than taking the risk of action. The goat nations just watched life go by as bystanders, spectators of those who, as the hymn says, "Work for the night is coming." Such will be brought before, "the throne of His glory," and held accountable for their, "standing idle in the marketplace."
Matthew 25 is a lesson in serving. Jesus said, "But I am among you as one who serves." Am I? Are you and I in the Church or our towns as, "among you as one who serves," or as one who is constantly looking to be served? Instead of all the talk of "my ministry," people should say "my service." The Greek word for "ministry" literally means to "wait on tables, to serve." It would help against all the self serving in the religious community. We need to discard the religious definition of "serve" and just serve. That is what Jesus expected the 10 young girls, the 3 servants, and the nations to be about, serving.
As I read this passage today, I just felt as though Jesus was saying to me again, just serve. That is what I was attempting to do in North Korea. That is what I am attempting to do now----------- serve you with whatever Jesus has given me. And that, my friend, anyone can do.
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for walking by service opportunities every day. Help me to not have a lofty idea of serving and just serve. Amen.
"The throne of His glory," here is a throne of judgment. Matthew 25 is a passage which deals with people who should have been about serving but did nothing. The foolish girls, in the face of a door about to close, attempted to depend on others for preparations they should have made. The fearful steward just lived a life of excuses, "I was afraid," rather than taking the risk of action. The goat nations just watched life go by as bystanders, spectators of those who, as the hymn says, "Work for the night is coming." Such will be brought before, "the throne of His glory," and held accountable for their, "standing idle in the marketplace."
Matthew 25 is a lesson in serving. Jesus said, "But I am among you as one who serves." Am I? Are you and I in the Church or our towns as, "among you as one who serves," or as one who is constantly looking to be served? Instead of all the talk of "my ministry," people should say "my service." The Greek word for "ministry" literally means to "wait on tables, to serve." It would help against all the self serving in the religious community. We need to discard the religious definition of "serve" and just serve. That is what Jesus expected the 10 young girls, the 3 servants, and the nations to be about, serving.
As I read this passage today, I just felt as though Jesus was saying to me again, just serve. That is what I was attempting to do in North Korea. That is what I am attempting to do now----------- serve you with whatever Jesus has given me. And that, my friend, anyone can do.
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive me for walking by service opportunities every day. Help me to not have a lofty idea of serving and just serve. Amen.
