Dear Friends in Christ,
In my previous devotion, I said that the resurrection puts God’s stamp of approval on everything Jesus said and did. I added, “This means that feeding people and helping them build better lives should matter to people of the resurrection.”
That sounds right—but did Jesus actually teach that?
I’ve been finishing a book called Jesus Says, based on the children’s game “Simon Says.” The idea is simple: followers of Jesus are called not only to believe in him, but to do what he says. The challenge is that many of us don’t really know his commands—there are nearly 300 of them.
After a year of studying them, I can say with confidence: Jesus did tell us to feed people. And while he may not have used the language of “better jobs,” helping people move toward a better life is clearly in his spirit.
In Matthew 25, Jesus describes the final judgment. People are not asked what they believed, but how they lived. Did you feed the hungry? Give drink to the thirsty? Clothe the naked? Welcome the stranger? Visit the sick and imprisoned?
Those who did are welcomed. Those who did not are left wanting.
That should get our attention.
Faith matters—but Jesus makes it clear that a resurrection life is a life of action. Not just a moment of kindness, but a lifetime of serving others with the time, resources, and compassion we’ve been given.
That is the life Jesus lived. And it is the life he calls us to live.
Andy Hagen
Executive Director of Boca Helping Hands (BHH)