Jesus wants your compassion!

This story of the sheep and goats is probably the inspiration for the story of the cobbler. The story goes something like this: The cobbler was told by God that the Christ would visit him one day. So the cobbler kept a place set at the table and food ready all day. During the course of the day he fed a bum, and boy, and a woman--all of whom appeared to be cold and hungry. At the end of the day, he was disappointed that the Christ had not come. But God said, "I did come. I ate with you three times today. When you fed the boy, the bum, and the woman, you fed me."

When someone comes are around asking for money for food or clothing, what should we do? How are we to know whether the person is a scammer or is "Jesus?"

What about taking in the homeless? In many places of the world, my house would be considered big enough to house several families. There would be one or two families sleeping in every room of the house. Of course, the rooms where nobody sleeps are not bedrooms. But for most people of the world, every room in the house doubles as a bedroom!

And there is another question: Am I ready to risk the "peace and safety" of my family by bringing in a homeless person? Am I leaving Jesus out in the cold because I am afraid to bring "Him" into my house?

It has been a long time since I have visited anyone in prison or jail. I know a man in prison. He is in prison because he did wrong. I told him I would visit him. He has been there for a few months, but I have not visited yet. This weekend I will be visiting some shut-ins. I will visit the prison some weekend in January. Meanwhile, I do talk with him by phone every few weeks.

When a stranger walks into church, what do you do? Have you ever invited a stranger home for lunch? A lot of people don't invite people home for lunch because their house is not ready, or they don't have enough food prepared. If I waited until my house was ready before I invited anyone home, I would never invited anybody. Rather, I have already decided to invite somebody, ready or not. Therefore, my house is usually (at least mostly) ready. If a stranger comes to church and I don't invite him home, I have missed a lunch date with Jesus.

In the last four passages, Jesus has told us how to be ready for Him when He comes back.
1. Be doing what you are supposed to be doing--feeding God's household. You feed God's household by (a) taking care of your own family; (b) caring for the poor; and (c) spreading the gospel.
2. Always have extra oil. The oil represents cooperating with the Holy Spirit to perfect your character. You get the oil by prayer and Bible study. It is a free gift from God for those who ask.
3. Use your talents and ability. They are given to you by God to be used. If you use them, they will increase. If you don't use them, they will be taken away.
4. Have compassion on the poor, sick, and imprisoned.

Justification is by faith, not through works. But being ready for Jesus to come back takes some work.