Imagine that Jesus walked through the doors of the church today. What would we do? We might welcome him. We might offer him a seat. We might invite him to stay for coffee. We might ask how we could help.
In Matthew 25 in the parable of the sheep and the goats, scripture whispers to us--Jesus may already be here. He may be the person who is hungry. The stranger who feels uncomfortable. The elderly person who has not had a visitor. The prisoner who believes everyone has forgotten him. The sick person who needs encouragement. The lonely person sitting quietly in the room.
Perhaps the question is not: “Where is Jesus?”
Perhaps the question is: “Whom have I failed to see?”
This week, may we look again. May we see Christ in the faces of those who need compassion. And may we discover that every act of love offered in Jesus’ name becomes an act of worship.Prayer Gracious and loving God, you have shown us that Christ is present in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten. Open our eyes to see the people we have overlooked.
Open our hearts to care about the needs we have ignored.
Open our hands to share what we have.
Open our feet to go where love is needed.
Keep us from becoming so busy that we fail to notice those around us. Keep us from becoming so comfortable that we forget those who suffer. Keep us from asking only, “What do I believe?”
and teach us also to ask, “How is my faith being lived?”
Lord Jesus, help us to recognize you in the face of every person who needs compassion. May our church be a place where the hungry find nourishment, the lonely find friendship, the stranger finds welcome, the wounded find healing,
and the forgotten discover that they are remembered. And when we serve the least of these, remind us that we are serving you. In the name of Jesus Christ, who comes to us in love and calls us to love others, Amen.
Wishing you a great week!—Pastor TJ
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney YouTube & YouTube
Podcast on Spotify: Inspire Messages
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com
In Matthew 25 in the parable of the sheep and the goats, scripture whispers to us--Jesus may already be here. He may be the person who is hungry. The stranger who feels uncomfortable. The elderly person who has not had a visitor. The prisoner who believes everyone has forgotten him. The sick person who needs encouragement. The lonely person sitting quietly in the room.
Perhaps the question is not: “Where is Jesus?”
Perhaps the question is: “Whom have I failed to see?”
This week, may we look again. May we see Christ in the faces of those who need compassion. And may we discover that every act of love offered in Jesus’ name becomes an act of worship.Prayer Gracious and loving God, you have shown us that Christ is present in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten. Open our eyes to see the people we have overlooked.
Open our hearts to care about the needs we have ignored.
Open our hands to share what we have.
Open our feet to go where love is needed.
Keep us from becoming so busy that we fail to notice those around us. Keep us from becoming so comfortable that we forget those who suffer. Keep us from asking only, “What do I believe?”
and teach us also to ask, “How is my faith being lived?”
Lord Jesus, help us to recognize you in the face of every person who needs compassion. May our church be a place where the hungry find nourishment, the lonely find friendship, the stranger finds welcome, the wounded find healing,
and the forgotten discover that they are remembered. And when we serve the least of these, remind us that we are serving you. In the name of Jesus Christ, who comes to us in love and calls us to love others, Amen.
Wishing you a great week!—Pastor TJ
Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney YouTube & YouTube
Podcast on Spotify: Inspire Messages
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com
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