For Goats, too

It is my intent to put up a mini discussional/devotional each day of Lent. But, I may fall of that pace. I'd ask anyone who reads this to keep me accountable to it, however. Lent is a time for us to reflect and grow, and I feel that with each day bringing a new discussional/devotional and a prayer combining our program theme and Lent we can accomplish each of those in a better way. If you have a discussional/devotional for Lent that you'd like me to include, send it to me via e-mail at vicepresident@sigmatheta.org

Let's take a look at some familiar scripture. I'm sure we've all heard a lot of teachings on it, and it was hit upon frequently in the program book I created for this school year. Matthew 25:31-46

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation 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, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit 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? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire 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, 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, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Think about this, as we journey through Lent:

Christ new what was coming at the end of our journey. He knew the cross was waiting for him. And he chose to go forward anyways. And he didn't get to pick and choose who could "benefit" from the cross. The cross isn't there only for the sheep, it's there for the goats, too. There were no lines of division, Christ was sacrificed for everybody. The only difference is between those who honestly accept that sacrifice, and those who don't.

As we move forward, are we willing to sacrifice for and love those who will potentially reject our sacrifice and our love? Are we willing to go after it for the goats? How can we do this? And how can we do it better?

Join me in this prayer:

Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for the Sacrifice
That was made on the cross

Thank you for the example
To love all, and not just those who appreciate it

I ask for your guidance
To have the same vision and diligence in my life

Bring me to atonement
Bring me to you
Bring me to love

Amen