The implication of this passage from Matthew 25 is as revelatory for us as it was in Matthew’s day:
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. …
Whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
—Matthew 25:35-36, 40 (NIV)
God wants our lives to overflow with mercy, love, and compassion — the marks of His kingdom. As followers of Jesus, we have a choice: respond to unsettling realities in fear and withdraw, or follow Him in responding to the greatest needs of our day with love and hope. We know salvation doesn’t depend on works, but we also know that caring for those in need is evidence of a faith that changes lives.
Along with our donors and supporters, we’ve put that kind of faith to work. Thanks in part to their tireless generosity and commitment to action, poverty is retreating and on the run. Two decades ago, more than 30,000 children died from preventable causes each day. Now, that number is less than 15,000. That’s millions of children’s lives saved every year!
Still, the job isn’t finished. Poverty may be pulling back, but it’s holing up in some of the toughest places in the world — areas plagued by violence, corruption, and exploitation. That’s why now is the time to come together, inviting our brothers and sisters to the deep and profoundly fulfilling purpose of building God’s kingdom by serving the poor and oppressed as Jesus did. It won’t be easy, but by uniting as the body of Christ, we can help make fuller lives possible for children and families in need.
When we do, something incredible will happen. We’ll encounter a living God working through us to usher in His kingdom of love and justice on earth. To end exploitation. To restore lives. To empower communities. And in serving them, we’ll serve Him.
Reflecting on the meaning of Matthew 25, join us in prayer.
