MATTHEW 25:31-40 – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
THEME OF THE DAY: SHEEP MARKS. What are some of the marks in a person who is a genuine Christian – a sheep in the good pasture of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus? The Bible doesn’t leave us to guess or be ignorant of these marks. God’s Word reveals many truths that affirm we are the sheep of His pasture and thus lead us to the joy of assurance of salvation. Today’s scripture provides a key one, but allow me to offer three others before we unfold the one the Lord identifies in the Matthew passage.
A sheep in the fold of the Lord Jesus has a love for other sheep; a love that longs for their company to encourage and invest in them for their temporal and spiritual good – We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death (1 John 3:14). Real and healthy sheep flock together.
Another mark in a sheep of the Lord Jesus is a hunger for Him; a longing for His Presence to bask in His glory and enjoy Him – O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you (Psalm 63:1-3). Real and healthy sheep yearn for the Good Shepherd.
We also note from the Apostle Paul a third mark of a sheep belonging to Jesus; a desire for His return – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). And not just a desire, but an intense love for the return of the Lord when we exchange faith for sight. Now back to the scripture of the day and a fourth mark found in a person who is a sheep in the Lord’s pasture.
Before I identify it, go ahead, and determine it yourself. It is clear. The Lord reveals a person who is one of His, a genuine Christian, lives a lifestyle of serving others and especially those who cannot give anything in return. And here is an important quality in the service. The sheep in His pasture naturally serves, never thinking of applause or recognition. It is service of love marked by self-denial and never thought of as a task or even act of service. It is a lifestyle.
Sheep marks. The Bible gives us many. May we ponder and affirm they are found in our lives as professing Christians.
PRAYER: “Father, please work in me the marks of being a sheep in Your Son’s pasture.”
QUOTE: “Our marks of being a sheep belonging to Jesus will be affirmed by service to others.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim