The Right Action

This morning I was reading from the Gospel of Matthew. There is a familiar verse in the 25th chapter that reads, "Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." As I came across verse 40, I could not help but stop to consider its significance.

The words of Jesus in verse 40 are part of a larger narrative. Jesus has begun to inform his disciples of what to expect when the Son of Man comes in all His glory (25:31-46). There is a place in Heaven for the righteous, a place that was established at the foundation of the world. But what makes them righteous? Jesus lists a number of actions that will be performed by the righteous...actions that convey their love for God. Those actions are 1) giving food to the poor, 2) giving drink to the thirsty, 3) welcoming strangers, 4) clotheing the naked, 5) caring for the sick, and 6) visiting the imprisoned. These actions, it would appear, are the actions of the righteous.

Reading this narrative reminded me that our actions communicate our identity. Simply, we live what we think. We act what we believe. We are what we do. The righteous were not made righteous by their actions. Their actions communicate the love they have for God. A love that comes from knowing God's love for them.