Fields United Methodist Church

Thoughts Along the Way

Pastor Tom Joyce

June 14, 2021

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Matthew 25:35-36

Jesus spells out what it means to live a life of faith; love your neighbor and take care of them, for no other reason than they are in need. Serving Jesus is not about doing things to fall into God’s good graces, rather service is about offering God’s good grace as a part of living life. You will never know what it means to share the love of Jesus to someone else, but they will know and never forget the grace you offered them. Serving all of God’s children is not about working your way into heaven rather serving Jesus shares a bit of heaven and the love of Jesus with those who are hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, and imprisoned. Many may not be physically hungry or sick but may be imprisoned by feelings of isolation, loneliness, or perhaps they just feel marginalized and misunderstood by society. When Jesus called all “who are weary and carrying heavy burdens,” (Matthew 11:28) Jesus called you to be his hands offering the love of God to those who are struggling through life. St. Paul testifies in Romans 8: 19 that “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.” When Jesus is served through caring for those in need, there is the realization that we are all on the journey of life together, a shared humanity that laughs, cries, celebrates, and mourns. All people are God’s children and to serve all people is to live out the calling each of us have been given by God. Here is the amazing thing, you may think you have nothing to offer but you do; you have the “love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in the depths of your heart,” just ready to be celebrated and shared. You are needed, especially you, to share the love of Jesus with all of God’s children. When you serve the needs of others, you serve the One who has called you by name and has promised to be with you “always, to the end of the age.” And when you serve others, you remind them they too are beloved by God.  Thank you Jesus, for the privilege to serve.