Hi ,

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” –John 13:34

     It was 1971, and a mild-summer's day in Southern Illinois. All the kids in our middle school were encouraged to participate in a March of Dimes, 20-mile Walkathon. At the age of 14, my friend Harry and I thought it would be better to run than walk. So, dressed in our cutoffs, t-shirts and sneakers we set off to "win the race!" Nearing the end, with a first-place trophy in mind, we dashed across the finish line only to be handed a certificate and a hotdog.

     However, before that unceremonious finish, we became very thirsty. Seeing a fruit vendor, we stopped. "Sir, if you could spare us an orange, we'd REALLY appreciate it! We're running for the March of Dimes and we're SO thirsty. Could we have just one orange?" Without a word he looked at me, then Harry, and then me again. After taking a moment to inspect his oranges he pulled one out and handed it to me. "Thanks so much mister!" And off we ran. Thrilled, we peeled our prize to discover that his careful selection was rotten! Not until years later would I realize the reason - Harry probably knew it then - Harry was black.

     You may be familiar with some version of the joke, "Joe, you're lazy, useless and ugly." Joe's response? "I'm not ugly!" In John 8, while warning the religious leaders (v. 44), Jesus was chastised, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed" (v. 48)? Jesus' response? "I'm not demon possessed" (v. 49). Notice the omission.

     Jesus is crystal clear about our treatment of one another. When He comes the second time, "He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats... [putting] the sheep on His right and the goats on His left" (Matt. 25:31-33). What differentiates the two? Simply this: one group has demonstrated compassion for those in need; the other has not (vv. 41-46). The solidarity Jesus has for all mankind is so complete that He says, "Whatever you did [or, did not do] for the least of these brothers of mine, you did [or, did not do] for Me" (vv. 40, 45). What are we doing, or not doing, for others today?

(The above was written and kindly shared by Pastor Dave Moench)