A Way to Get a Reward

I heard someone tell of walking into his house to get a cup of coffee. Suddenly he had a strong impression to give the cup of coffee to an older man who was working outside.

He carried the coffee to the man, and as he walked away, God said, "Do you realize that you just gave me a cup of coffee?

"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward" (Mark 9:38). 

Jesus also said that anyone who cares for the unfortunate, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

 When someone does something nice for my children, I appreciate it as though they had done it for me. This is what Jesus is saying here. However, He is saying this in behalf of all who are hungry, thirsty, in a strange place, without clothes, sick, or in prison: "Express your love for Me by feeding and caring for these."  We have the compassion of Christ when we see someone's needs supplied and we're as grateful as though our own needs were met. 

A pastor in India traveled from village to village and saw hundreds of children who were becoming ill and dying because of the poor quality of their drinking water. He declared that "Anyone who showed pity on the children of the poor, no matter if they were Hindu, Muslim, or Buddhist, when they helped to improve the condition of the disease ridden water--these persons were doing the work of Jesus!" 

Dear Father, give us the heart of compassion that responds with Your love to those with needs.

"Christ's love compels us" (2 Corinthians 5:14).