by Pastor Steve Tompkins

Lately I’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 from the parable of the sheep and the goats at the last judgment (v 31-46), especially where he says this “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Jesus is saying that when we in compassion serve the hurting, broken, poor, sick, imprisoned and marginalized we are in fact serving him.  When we touch them we touch him.  This is entirely mysterious to me.  But then again, experiencing God’s presence on earth is always mysterious is it not?

The thing that I have realized is that I am prone to think of God’s presence as being “up there” or “out there” and that we are most likely to touch or experience his presence in corporate worship and singing as the church is gathered.  I love gathered worship, but I am now being convicted that my thinking here is partial at best.

Should I not begin to see the presence of Jesus as being, in a way, much more earthly than I have previously imagined?  Is not touching in compassion a hurting, broken or sick person as much a mysterious experience of the presence of Jesus as singing in corporate worship on Sunday?  Jesus’ words would indicate so.  I have served the hurting and marginalized because I know Jesus calls me to, but all too often my eyes have been shut to the mystery of his presence here.

I am now being convicted of my blindness.  Lord Jesus, touch my eyes that I may see, truly see!  More than anything I DO desire to experience the mystery of your presence daily.  Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39).  Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner.