Matthew 25:31 (ESV): “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his 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 gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
Service and compassion is at the very heart of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ is the epitome of these things. He spent himself wholly upon these world-changing and life-altering Kingdom principles. The spiritual realm was not Jesus’ only concern! He was equally taken with the physical realities accompanying this life! He labored prayerfully to supernaturally transform the spiritual and the physical realities of this world. Did he succeed? Yes!
And he calls each of us – no, he commands us – to be just like him! Jesus said, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:7). Jesus also said, “… I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father” (John 14:31). Compassionate service is, therefore, more than just a spiritual discipline for earth-bound believers; it is actually a reflection of Trinity. Our participation in compassion and service not only reveals our love for Jesus (John 14:23-24: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”), but also proclaims Trinity. Compassion and service are not options for followers of Jesus Christ. They are part of our new life in Christ.
When we practice compassion and service we literally acknowledge, celebrate, proclaim, and dance with the Godhead. This is why Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” When we fail to practice compassion and service, we fail to acknowledge, celebrate, proclaim, and dance with the Godhead. This failure is serious, and it warrants divine judgment. Remember, the scripture describes the goats on the left as those who did not practice compassion and service; the sheep on the right practiced compassion and service and were in good standing with Trinity. This is serious business, obviously.
Christianity is all about being transformed internally, but it is also about transforming outside realities. We each must work together, and in tandem with the Holy Spirit, towards a healthy and holistic expression of the faith. The Scriptures say as much, consistently, from Genesis to Revelation.
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