Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
The Lord Jesus Christ is generous in His thanks and even generous in His praise to those who have wanted to serve Him, but have felt very unworthy.
To some He says with great enthusiasm, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
But they are surprised; they turn around to see if He is not talking past them to other people behind them; they themselves feel very unworthy of such genuine thanks and praise. He responds, No, it's you I mean.
They remonstrate with Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" There must be some mistake here; we are not worthy!
Then they hear the sweetest words anyone can ever hear from the lips of the world's Savior, "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me" (Matt. 25:35-40).
The generosity of the Lord Jesus shines brightly through all eternity. He speaks to us a positive word through a double negative: "God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love (yes, the word is agape, not phileo), which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb. 6:10).
He remembers every effort you have made to reflect His agape to others, weak and tremulous as it may be. That double negative is His assurance to you that He welcomes you as His co-laborer with Himself in His work for the world.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 24, 2008.
Copyright © 2014 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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