OUR DAILY BREAD : THE VISITOR

[cimi]

February 10
Tuesday

READ:
Matthew 25:31-40
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I was naked and you
clothed Me; I was sick
and you visited Me; I
was in prison and you
came to Me.
__Matthew 25:36
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A friend asked a newly retired man what he was doing now that he was no longer working full-time. "I describe myself as a visitor," the man replied. "I go see people in our church and community who are in the hospital or care facilities, living alone, or just need someone to talk and pray with them. And I enjoy doing it!" My friend was impressed by this man's clear sense of purpose and his care for others.

A few days before Jesus was crucified, He told His followers a story that emphasized the importance of visiting people in need. "The King will say to those on his right hand,,'...I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me' " (Matt. 25:34,36). When asked, "When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" the king will answer, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me" (vv.39-40).

Our ministry of visiting has two beneficiaries__the person visited and Jesus Himself. To go to a person with help and encouragement is direct service to our lord.

Is there someone who would be encouraged by your visit today? __David McCasland

``````````````````Lord Jesus, help me to see others with Your````````````````````
````````````````eyes. Show me what it means to demonstrate```````````````````
`````````````````Your love to those around me. Thank You for```````````````````
```````````````````the love You give to me that I can share.````````````````````
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Compassion is understanding the troubles of others.
coupled with an urgent desire to help.

******************************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 25:31-40********************************
31 When the Son of Man
comes in His glory, and all
the holy angels with Him,
then He will sit on the
throne of His glory. 3 All
the nations will be gathered
before Him, and He will
separate them one from
another, as a shepherd
divides his sheep form the
goats. 33 And He will set the
sheep on His right hand,
but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to
those on His right hand,
"Come, you blessed of 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 took
Me in, 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 When did we see You a
stranger and take You in, or
naked and clothe You? 39 Or
when did we see You sick,
or in prison, and come to
you?"

And the King will
answer and say to them,
"Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to
one of the least of these My
brethren, you did it to Me."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In today's passage, Jesus tells His followers that love for our
neighbor is an expression of our love for God. Only a few
chapters before this (Matt. 22), He tells them that the greatest
commandments are to love God and love our neighbor.