gigiming loves

Scripture:

31 ⁱ“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, ^jthen he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him ^kwill be gathered ^lall the nations, and ^mhe will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates ⁿthe sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then ^othe King will say to ^pthose on his right, ‘Come, you ^qwho are blessed by my Father, ^rinherit ^sthe kingdom ^tprepared for you ^ufrom the foundation of the world. 35 For ^vI was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you ^wgave me drink, ^xI was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 ^vI was naked and you clothed me, ^yI was sick and you ^zvisited me, ^aI 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 ^bthe King will answer them, ^c‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these ^dmy brothers,⁶ you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ^e‘Depart from me, you ^fcursed, into ^gthe eternal fire prepared for ^hthe devil and his angels. 42 For ⁱI was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, ^jyou did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away ^kinto eternal punishment, but the righteous ^kinto ^leternal life.”

Matthew 25:31–46

Background:
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks about the final judgment, where He will separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. This passage reveals that true discipleship is not only about belief but also about action—specifically, how we treat others. Jesus identifies Himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned, making it clear that serving those in need is equivalent to serving Him. As we reflect on Easter and the sacrifice of Christ, we are reminded that our faith calls us to love and serve others in His name.

Devotional:
Easter is the ultimate expression of Christ’s love—a love that sought out the broken, embraced the sinner, and bore the burden of the world’s suffering. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches us that His love is not just something we receive but something we are called to extend to others. The passage challenges us to examine our hearts and actions: Do we see Christ in the least of these? Do we serve others with the same sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross?

When we care for the hungry, the lonely, and the oppressed, we reflect Christ’s resurrection power in a world that desperately needs hope. This passage reminds us that faith is not passive but active—demonstrated through acts of kindness, justice, and mercy. As we celebrate Easter, let us recommit ourselves to living out Christ’s love by seeing and serving Him in those around us.

Reflection:

1. How does Jesus’ identification with “the least of these” change the way you view and treat others?
2. What are practical ways you can serve those in need in your community?
3. In what ways is your faith calling you to action?
4. How does serving others deepen your relationship with Christ?
5. What step can you take today to reflect Christ’s love to someone who is hurting?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the love and sacrifice of Jesus, who gave His life so that we might have eternal life. Help us to see You in those who are in need and give us hearts that are eager to serve. May we love as You have loved us, and may our actions reflect the grace and mercy we have received. Teach us to live out our faith in tangible ways, bringing hope and healing to a broken world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Application:
Find a way to serve someone in need this week. Whether it’s feeding the hungry, reaching out to a lonely neighbor, or supporting a ministry that cares for the vulnerable, take a step to embody Christ’s love in action.

Takeaway:
True faith is lived out through love in action. When we serve others, we serve Christ. Let Easter be a reminder that the resurrection calls us to compassion and service in His name.