sheep or goat?

sheep or goat?

Lord, help me not to be a goat!

Matthew 25:31-46 (KJV)

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Its easy to do things for God but never have a relationship to Him. In fact there are goats in every church. Working diligently for the Kingdom but not from His agenda, rather for their own. They have everyone fooled, and are probably called pillars of the community. Like the Pharisees in the days Jesus came the first time, everyone respected them, everyone sought their advice in spiritual things. Jesus criticized them as being blind, missing that which was most important, Himself.

The difference between sheep and goats is about relationship and shows up in fruit and character. What is character? Your true character is what you do alone. Are you interceding for others? Are you thinking of YOUR next adventure? Are you making sacrifices that aren't expected for others? Are you enjoying your time with the Lord. Jesus left people to intentionally be alone so he could commune with the Father, is there prayer time? Are you miserable and alone? Are you temperate when others aren't watching or do you let yourself go a little? Do you show the faith that time alone is time with the Lord to grow the relationship that matters most. For all of us, only we and the Lord know what we do alone.

Knowing the Lord and realizing our condition without Him and having a level of true meekness, not an act for others, means we should cling to Him we should pray seek His direction. In the scripture the truly meek sheep didn't realize they were serving Christ, they were so caught up in knowing Him. Whereas the goats were putting on their pretense of being righteous, but it was not about Him it was about gaining honor in the eyes of men. Getting some advantage, trying to manipulate circumstances.

Romans 5:1-5 (NASB)

Results of Justification

5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Character is developed through persevering tribulation. Knowing our lost and hopeless situation and developing and clinging to Christ who is THE only hope of glory.

Romans 5:1-5 (KJV)

5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

KJV uses "experience" rather than "character". As we gain life experience our reaction to different tribulations will develop, we'll probably try several things to learn to endure. The only sure way to endure is to grow in relationship to the Lord, cling to Him. Seek to do things His way. It was He Himself acting through the sheep that allowed Him to, that gave the food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty and clothed the naked. Thats why they didn't realize they had done it. As to the goats they never submitted their lives to Him, which is why they never saw the opportunity.

The prophet Daniel, what did he do in his quiet times?

What did Jesus do in His quiet times?

What do you do in your quiet times? Make yourself available to Him, listen grow in knowledge realize your helplessness without Him.

Lord, help me not to be a goat!