Last week, we had a great chance to serve our community. Jeff Galyon, one of our members, approached us about helping to feed people who struggle to have enough food for themselves, their children, and the elderly. Jeff volunteers with Our Father’s Table, a non-profit that’s been meeting people’s needs here in town for years. The mission is simple—give people what they need without judgment. But it’s more than just a meal; it’s a chance to look people in the eye and show them the love of Jesus. This is a powerful way to live out our faith, to put our words into action.

I’ve heard many Christians say we need to reach our community with the gospel. Many talk about the importance of sharing the gospel and how it impacts eternity. Many speak about how the gospel has changed their own lives. But we need to make sure our actions speak louder than our words. Our walk must back up our talk.

Put simply, the best way to spread Jesus’ message is to show it, not just say it. Show people we love them. Show them that Jesus cares. Show what it means to be a Christian. Show our commitment to Jesus’ teachings by loving our neighbors, those who have made mistakes, those struggling to hold things together, the abandoned, and the outcasts in our community.

Jesus taught about this in Matthew 25:

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 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, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 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; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:31-46). 

In the end how we took care of the “least of them” might be the deciding factor if we are sheep or goats, on the right or the left, if we will be in the heavenly “kingdom” or in “eternal punishment”. 

When we have an opportunity to help, let’s not miss it. Our eternal life may depend on it.

For the Lord,

Alex