Whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, but closes his heart of compassion from him, how can the love of God remain in him?

— 1 John 3:17

Let me tell you a story. I was a brand new Christian and I decided to read the Bible, so I just opened it up at random (not a recommended procedure), and I looked down and read a verse that said, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). I thought to myself, “Good heavens, what horrible things did these people do?” I discovered they had done nothing.

Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me… . as you did it not for one of the least of these, you did it not for Me” (Matthew 25:42-43, 45).

God didn’t create us to not do something. He created us to do something. He told us to “Do this,” and “Do that,” and “Do the other.” And one of those things is to feed the hungry and visit the sick in His name. If we fail to do those things, we are guilty of sins of omission, which can be just as devastating in their consequences as the sins of commission.

Question to ponder:
Are you involved in any acts of mercy?