Magnetic Marks of Jesus' Followers
Extreme Makeover – World Edition!
Week of October 7, 2007
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God’s Word for Us This Week: Matthew 25:31-46
31 "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' 37 "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' 41 "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42 For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' 44 "Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45 And he will answer, 'I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."
Key Points:
SEEing with the eyes of Jesus the needs of the least, the last and the lost is challenging on two counts:
- Taking the TIME is a challenge; and
- DISCERNING who is really least, last and lost is another challenge!
Challenge for the Week:
I will SEE the needs of the least, the last and the lost around me, and I will meet those needs in the name of Jesus Christ!
Monday: Reread Matthew 25:31-33 (On front of this study.) What does Jesus say it will be like when He returns? How does this “line up” with your own picture of the “end time?” What does it say about our preparation for Jesus’ return?
Tuesday: Reread Matthew 25:34-36 What did the “sheep” or “righteous ones” do according to today’s Scripture? What does that say about our preparation for Jesus’ return?
Wednesday: Reread Matthew 25:37-40 Note the surprise from the righteous ones. Why do you suppose they didn’t realize that helping one of the “least” was helping Jesus? What do you learn from this Scripture about daily living as a follower of Jesus?
Thursday: Reread Matthew 25:41-43 What did the “goats” or “cursed ones” do or NOT do according to the Scripture? What do we learn from this?
Friday: Reread Matthew 25:44-46 Note the surprise from the cursed ones. Why do you suppose they didn’t see NOT helping the least as not helping Jesus? What do you learn from this Scripture about daily living as a follower of Jesus?
Saturday: Tomorrow we start a whole new series – “40 Days of Gratitude.” Prepare your heart for it by reading 2 Kings 4:8-17; 28-37 and find out what happened when the Shunamite woman received a miracle from God.