Day 4 - Saturday

May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation among all nations. (Psalm 67:1-2)

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  (Matthew 25:34-36)

“Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier and a Christian.  One cold winter day, as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked for alms.  Martin had no money; but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold, and Martin gave what he had.  He took off his soldier’s coat, worn and frayed as it was; he cut it in two and gave half of it to the beggar man.  That night he had a dream.  In it he saw the heavenly places and all the angels and Jesus in the midst of them; and Jesus was wearing half of a Roman soldier’s cloak.  One of the angels said to him, “Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak?  Who gave it to you?”  And Jesus answered softly, “My servant Martin gave it to me.”  (as told by William Barclay)

We have a common saying which says – “Where there is a will, there is a way.”  It means that if we really want something bad enough, if we apply ourselves unreservedly, we can accomplish whatever we put our minds to.  But Jesus reveals to us that the way of salvation is different.  In sharing the parable of the sheep and goats, he shows us that the way into God’s Kingdom is not about doing the right things to the right people out of self-interest.  But rather the way is paved with acts of charity and kindness and generosity – even to those who can give us nothing in return.  And it will be in our humility of heart that Christ and the way of salvation will be most clearly seen by others. 
There is something about caring for those who need care, helping those who feel trapped, loving those who need love, that reflects the very heart of God and makes his light reflect on us in such a way “that [his salvation] may be known on earth”.
Is there someone you can help today?  Pray that God would give you eyes to see the needs of others and the compassion to help as opportunity presents itself.  

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times that I have stepped over the needs of others when I saw no benefit for myself.  Help me to have eyes of compassion and a willingness to serve others with the same kind of love and mercy that you have shown to me.  Amen.