Royal Service

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:42-45

Sometimes we know something to be true, but its truth doesn't settle into us as a reality until an epiphany or revelation occurs. In my instance, the epiphany spoke from the Holy Spirit directly to my heart during a time of sincere, self-centered frustration.

I've always known the importance of taking care of the hurt, helpless, homeless, and hungry, but for some reason, I never pictured my children as those people. The ins and outs of motherhood can drag you down to a place where you forget the truth in your monotony. That's when you whisper to God for a heart-change, and He loves to answer that prayer. When I go to Heaven, I hope Jesus can speak to me like he does in the verses preceding the ones above. Both the righteous and unrighteous commonly share a misunderstanding for Jesus' presence in their lives. The difference occurs in their actions on Earth. Jesus tells the righteous that they were in fact feeding, clothing, and caring for Him.

Thankfully, I started 2018 with a sweet revelation! In feeding my children, caring for them in sickness, clothing them and looking after them, I am actually serving my Lord at the same time! What a gift. What a beautiful way to picture all of our jobs and seasons starting off a new year. It's easy to forget, yet it's easy to ask God to remind us of our simple and essential work of servitude. Jesus was the ultimate royal servant, and I am thankful to emulate Him each day this year.