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OUR DAILY BREAD             Thurs., Aug. 17, 1995    
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READ: Matthew 25:31-46 
 
 
                    IN HIS NAME  
 
       "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the   
    least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." 
 
                      -- Matthew 25:40 
 
 
According to a legend, Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) 
was riding his horse one day when he saw a leper by 
the roadside, begging for money.  He dismounted, gave 
him a coin, and kissed him on the cheek.  As francis 
rode away, he looked back and thought for a moment 
that he saw Christ Himself standing where the beggar 
had stood. 
 
This story illustrates a wonderful biblical truth: 
We serve the Lord when we serve a needy person.   
Jesus made this clear when He said that any kindness 
shown to the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the 
sick, the destitute, and the imprisoned will be judged 
as having been done directly to Him (Mt. 25:40, 45). 
He identifies so closely with the oppressed that 
serving them in His name is the same as serving Him. 
 
We tend to limit our own service to Christ by thinking 
that ministers and missionaries are the best able to 
do it.  But whenever we extend help in the name of 
Jesus through acts of caring, Jesus Himself is there 
even though we cannot see Him.  And someday when we 
stand before Him, He will recall our deeds of love  
performed in His name and say, "Well done!" 
 
Let's keep on serving Him by serving others. 
 
                                -- Dennis J. De Haan 
 
        God's service is more than mere preaching; 
             Whatever we do, here's the key; 
           Of that which is done for His glory, 
          Christ says, "You have done it for Me!" 
 
                                -- J. David Branon 
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           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY  
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             We serve Christ  
      when we serve people in need. 
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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 64-66

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