Friday
May 9, 2025

Discipleship Point

Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Discipleship Point

You can see this picture language from Jesus employed in the Christian creeds. The following words come from the Nicene Creed. A disciple of Jesus confesses faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ, who for us men and for our salvation:

  • came down from heaven and
  • was incarnate by the Holy Spirit
  • of the virgin Mary and made man;
  • He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate.
  • He suffered and
  • was buried.
  • The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
  • ascended into heaven and
  • sits at the right hand of the Father.
  • He will come again with glory
    o to judge both the living and the dead,
    o whose kingdom will have no end.

Discipleship Prayer

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Lord, Lord, ever since You renewed Peter’s call and told him "take care of my sheep", You have sought disciples who will do the will of the Father and care for Your sheep. I want to reflect Your heart as my shepherd, who gave Your life for the sheep. As both sheep and shepherd-helper, let me be a blessing to the others around me; in Your name I pray Jesus. Amen.


Micro-Meditation

Psalm 119:1-8

  1.  Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
    who walk according to the law of the Lord.
  2. Blessed are those who keep his statutes
    and seek him with all their heart—
  3. they do no wrong
    but follow his ways.
  4. You have laid down precepts
    that are to be fully obeyed.
  5. Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!
  6. Then I would not be put to shame
    when I consider all your commands.
  7. I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.
  8. I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.

Read the versus of the Psalm. 

Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention. 

Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.

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Teaching or Command of God

Hebrews 13:5a

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have… 

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The Promise

Hebrews 13:5b

…because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. 

Pondering Point

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How could praising God with an upright heart be different from praising Him with a corrupt heart?


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