The right hand of the Son of Man
In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
Let me never be put to shame. Psalm 71:1
Read Matthew 25:31—36,40
In tonight’s quiet time I am advanced to what looks like the conclusion of God’s dealings with the nations. It began when God promised Abraham that those who blessed his promised people would be blessed, those who cursed would be cursed.[1] Now I come to the end of the story and I see it happening, the blessing and also the cursing. It happens in the response to the treatment of the Son of Man. He represents the people of God. Now the nations are brought before the Son of Man. And some have been blessing the Son of Man without knowing it. Some have not. He has been present. He has been present in the form of his brothers and sisters when they suffer. The nations who are meeting him have already met him in his suffering form. This would include the suffering church, his brothers and sisters. This is at the heart of all history. There is blessing from God for those who have blessed the suffering brothers and sisters of Jesus. They have been dealing with Jesus all along.
Dear Lord, it seems that all history contains you. You are present in it. You have been present today, even when you have not been recognised. You are present in your suffering people. I love you as I love your people. Let me love your church. Let me love your people when they suffer. Let me be part of the blessing.
[1] Genesis 12:3