https://odb.org/MY/2022/02/01/love-on-the-go
The Gospel of Matthew uses 5 teaching blocks to wrap around the story of Jesus, of which the first and last were the longest and appear to stand in contrast to one another. The first block, the Beatitudes or the Sermon of the Mount, presents the ideals and principles of living in the Kingdom of God while the last block, speaks of the consequences if those ideals and principles are not adhered to or disregarded.
In Matthew 25:31-40, Jesus taught about the need to treat others well as when we do so we are doing the same to Him. It is like those people that are around us, that we meet in the street, that we interact with in our daily life at work or wherever is a proxy of Jesus, a representative of Him, a persona of the Lord. If we are kind to them, we are kind to Jesus. If we are mean to them, then we are mean to Him. If we exert authority and oppress them or cheat and swindle them with trickery or deceit, then we are doing the same thing to Jesus! Not only do we ask ourselves what would Jesus do in that situation, we need to tell ourselves that everyone that we deal with is Jesus and if so, will we ever be mean, cruel or vindictive with anyone ever? God is represented in each and everyone one of them. Surely, we will be kind and forgiving to Jesus if we were to meet Him in person, face to face! So in the same rein, surely we will be kind and forgiving to everyone if everyone is a proxy or representative of Christ!
Blessed Chinese New Year, everyone! As we enter the Year of the Tiger, may we apply and live out the ideals and principles for the Kingdom of God in the Beatitudes as Jesus shared in the Sermon of the Mount and may we indeed treat everyone we meet and know, whether in our family, church, community, at work or in the streets, with love and compassion, kindness and forgiveness and see Christ in every single one of them! If we are mean, cruel and vindictive to them, then we are likewise mean, cruel and vindictive against our Lord Jesus Christ!
Ronnie's Thoughts 