LOVING AND CARING FOR THE LORD

While we wait for the physical manifestation of Christ Jesus, how does Jesus reveal Himself on earth today? Who is Jesus on earth? The answer is two-fold - 

1. those who follow Christ, considered to be the Church of the living God and
2. the hungry, the thirsty, the lonely stranger, the unclothed, sick and imprisoned.

God prayed for unity in His twelve disciples then all believers as His representation on earth during the Church Age. 

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:17-23)

Not only are we The Lord's body represented here on earth, but we are also His care and compassion stretched forth to those hurting in life. And those hurting in life are Christ also. Jesus desires to minister to His own suffering people - He paid the price for All, not just some. In empathizing with them, being with them and leading us to them - The Body of Christ on earth can and will grow larger and stronger. Jesus says in Matthew 25:35-36, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Christ works on "Both Sides of the Tracks" to grow His kingdom. 

The second we stop loving and caring for the hungry, thirsty, stranger, unclothed, sick imprisoned and one of the least of our brothers or sisters is the moment we stop growing individually, corporately and Loving And Caring For The Lord.