Are you a SHEEP or a GOAT? Read to find out which one you are!

You are in your warm, cozy car on a rainy, chilly spring day.  As you approach a stoplight in downtown Kansas City you see him.  Nameless. He is "working" the corner of 47th and Main and is wearing old, dirty clothes.  Hopeless. He is holding up a cardboard sign that reads, "Need money for bus fare." Homeless.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Would you silently wish the light turns green so you can avoid him at all costs? After all, he's probably an addict of some kind, right?  Surely he has brought this on himself.  Ever had these thoughts cross your mind?  I sure have.  I remember even as a young girl being told by adults in my life to never give money to a homeless person because more often than not they'll go buy beer or drugs w/ it.  So I grew up, lived on the Plaza for several years as a young adult and many times I ignored the person standing next to my window or outside of Barnes and Nobles.  I wouldn't look them in the eyes but would stare straight ahead, anxious to see that light turn so I could just get the heck outta dodge. 

BUT NOT ANYMORE.

Let's think about what Christ would do in this situation.  Let's just pretend He was sitting in the passenger seat.  He doesn't say a word, but rather, gives you the opportunity to make your choice.  Would you squirm uncomfortably?  Would you defend your lack of action?  Would you not feel guilty at all because you are confident in your opinion? Or would you feel so under conviction that you can hardly roll down your window fast enough?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?  I mean...REALLY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Wanna know what I did this week?  I praised God that I had some cash in my purse, as I rarely carry any on me.  I praised God that I was able to have this encounter w/ a fellow human being and have the opportunity to share with him. I refused to IGNORE.



I only had $5, but I rolled my window down and waved at him.  He came to me and barely got there in time before the light turned green...there were several cars ahead of me and behind me.  He looked me in the eyes, was gracious, thankful, and polite.  I started pulling forward and was so excited when the light turned red again and I was once again "stuck" at 47th and Main.  I rolled my window down and Nameless approached my car once again.  I was able to look him in the eyes and tell him that he was valued and cherished by a loving Savior who is the living water and the Bread of Life. If he goes and buys something OTHER THAN a bus ticket?...well, that's between him and God.  I can only be responsible for ME.

I drove away and prayed for him and the homeless all around the world, that they would hear this message...(and I wept as my Ghanaian friend Abraham came to mind).  I am not blogging this to receive any praise, for I am ashamed to say that many times this was NOT my story..but its never too late to change.

 

So back to my title...are you a sheep or a goat?  Confused yet?  Read this passage straight from Matthew 25 to find out your answer.


 ^31-33"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.  ^34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

   I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.'
 ^37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'
 ^41-43"Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

   I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
   I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
   I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
   Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'
 ⁴⁴"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'
 ⁴⁵"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'

So what are YOU going to be the next time you are faced in the same situation?  A sheep or a goat?  What do you want your children to see you do?  As for my kids...I want them to see a woman who has RECKLESS COMPASSION, than maybe they, too, will grow up knowing the Nameless, sharing Hope to the Hopeless, and yes, even buy some bus fare for the Homeless.

AND TO ALL THE SKEPTICS OUT THERE I HAVE ONE THING TO SAY TO YOU:

"Baaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaa".  (Ok, so I just realized sheep and goats kinda sound the same so just to clear up any confusion that was my SHEEP sound, K?)