WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE CALLED "JESUS?"

Good day dear friends.

Please be in prayer for Samuel Martinez undergoing surgery this morning in McAllen. I was with Sam and Pam earlier and he's a bit nervous as we all would be! What made it a bit more stressful is that his mom was admitted to the ER in the same hospital this morning as well. So, please pray for Mrs. Gloria Martinez. I tried to see her but she had been taken for some tests and was not expected back for an hour and a half. Both Martinez' are at Renaissance Hospital, McAllen.

Our text this morning is from Matthew 25:34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

Soren Kierkegaard, a noted theologian told of an embarrassing story in his life. He saw a sign in the window that said, "Pants Pressed While You Wait." He went inside, saw no one, but proceeded to remove his pants. A man stepped into the room and asked, "What are you doing? I don't press pants, I paint signs!" This has been used as an illustration of those who "talk the talk" but don't "walk the walk." In other words, our witness should be based more on what we do than what we say. It's easier to give witness with our lip service than with our hand service.
What do you do when you see or hear of a need? What you do will result in the greatest witness of all. Another story tells of a man traveling with friends who are placed on standby for a flight that will take them home earlier than expected and as their names are called to present themselves at the gate, they run towards their gate and the three knock down the items of a kiosk run by a blind girl. The two friends run on without regard to the mess they've made of the girl's livelihood, but the last man stops and helps, knowing he will miss the flight, but knowing in his heart it was the only thing he could do. The girl is sobbing at what she knows is a mess but is surprised someone has stopped to help her. All she can think to ask, "Are you Jesus?"

When was the last time you were called "Jesus"?

PRAYER. Loving God, let me be "Jesus" to those in need today. Let my hands and feet do that which my lips have professed. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

e.v.