sheep or goats looked at individuals as important as God. Neither of them could make the connection. The sheep knew they didn't do it to God directly and the goat were trying to figure out when they missed GOD? So it is clear that it was foreign and beyond the scope of both of their reasoning that God sees His prize creation as something very special and unique. THEN if someone is a BORN AGAIN BELIEVER, Christ, rightfully calls them His brother.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with Him... Roman 8:16-17
Christ is the firstborn of many brethren
Romans 8:29
We live in a society where rugged individualism is praised and encouraged. Generations are being raised up without the fear or knowledge of God much less God's word. Nevertheless, the duty and responsibility to uphold the standards of love, care and concern for humanity and especially the family of God has not been removed. . We can never afford to allow the enemy to divide and conquer or to make the "haves" forget about the "have nots". We are STILL our brother's keepers. We STILL need our churches. We STILL need our church families. We STILL need our church leaders and we STILL are required to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Sheep remain communal. They listen to their shepherd and they follow their led. While these sheep didn't realize they were doing the things that would gain them eternal life, they had a shepherd the led them biblically. For those who refuse to connect to the community of God, the people of God and follow the leaders of God it speaks volumes of the "goatness" abiding in you. While you may know Him AS Lord, the reality of your 2-way relationship is just as distorted as those in Matthew 25 and the results are foreseen. Don't let the mishaps and misguidance of others keep you in goat mode. Be a sheep so that you may enter the eternal pasture of our King when it is time.
Let us pray:
Dear God, we bless You and thank You for this day and for the opportunity to learn how to maintain our relationship with You. Thank You for showing us that loving You means loving others. Thank You for reminding us serving others is what You reward. Holy Spirit lead us in how and who to minister to. Let it not just be natural needs meet but we asked to use us supernaturally. Use us to set the depressed and oppressed free through Your power and might. These things we pray in Jesus name! AMEN!