Service: 3 Reasons To Serve The Body Of Believers Series

Jesus says He was hungry and the disciples fed Him. There are all so many ministries in our area that based on these exact verses. Wheeler Mission Ministries in downtown Indianapolis is a great example. They are a shelter for the homeless – a place where they can get a free meal, clothes, a place to lay their head at night, and enjoy a warm shower. In order to get involved in serving Christ by serving these homeless people, all it takes is a simple phone call. But, my friends, we must understand something important about this passage. Jesus begins by separating the sheep and the goats – the Christians and unbelievers. He then continues by saying that “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” This means that on judgments day, we will be judged by how we treat “the brethren” – our fellow Christians, not just the homeless in general

Jesus continues by saying He was sick and the disciples visited Him. When President George W. Bush was nearing the competition of his second term as President of the United States, he was asked what he would miss most about being president. He replied by saying he would miss being Commander-in-Chief. Months after his presidency was over, it was released in the news media that President Bush would often travel secretly at night to visit the wounded servicemen returning from the war to which he had sent them. He wanted to keep his excursions a secret because he wanted to visit the wounded American heroes without the normal presidential hype. By visiting in secret in the middle of the night, Bush felt he could spend more time visiting and getting to know the wounded warriors. All politics aside, as President he served those who served us. Although you and I will never be president of the United States and have such privileges as they do, we too can serve Jesus by visiting and caring for the sick. Again, this passage references the sick brethren, therefore we need not refer all visitations of the sick to the pastor, but make time in our lives to visit the sick among us, whether in hospitals or homes.

Jesus said to His disciples that He was in prison and they came to visit. I have been blessed to have been involved a number of times in prison ministry. I have been given the honor numerous times to travel to multiple state prison facilities here in Indiana with the specific purpose of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the true gospel of hope, through the avenue of basketball. Let me tell you, when you step inside the walls of a prison there truly is a different atmosphere. The sentenced men in Plainfield and Michigan City are seemingly more receptive and hungry for the Gospel as prisoners than many of us are as free citizens. Those men are convicted felons, yet the message of freedom in Christ often resonates in their hearts. While such ministries are important, powerful, and necessary, Jesus specifically references to the “brethren” who are incarcerated. This could be ministering to believers imprisoned for picketing in front of an abortion clinic, believers who refuse to pay for abortifacient pills through an employer subsidized healthcare plans, or other forms of civil disobedience.