Pastor Luke recently challenged us to consider the profound question, “What is your destiny?” While we often associate destiny with personal dreams and aspirations, Tuesday’s devotion from Pastor Kristie Sexton gave us a powerful, scriptural lens to view that question: Our destiny is intrinsically linked to serving the needs of others.
The Royal Reply: Serving the “Least of These”
The foundation of this message comes from one of the most moving passages in the New Testament: Matthew 25:35-40. This section is often referred to as the “Judgment of the Nations,” where the King addresses the righteous, saying:
“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.”
The righteous answer, “When did we do these things for you, Lord?” The King’s reply is the key to our understanding of true Christian service, and the core of our destiny: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Think about that for a moment. If Jesus were physically walking the streets today, hungry or in need, there’s no doubt we would all rush to offer Him everything. But the Word of God makes it clear: When you meet the needs of others, you are serving Jesus directly. It is a simple, yet profound, act of worship.
The Eternal Impact of a Single Moment
We sometimes underestimate the seismic impact a simple act of kindness can have. Pastor Kristie shared an incredible personal story that beautifully illustrates this eternal principle.
Several years ago, her husband was driving when he saw a homeless woman being robbed and beaten. He pulled over, intervened, and told the woman, “Listen, there’s a better way of life for you. You don’t need to be living on the streets.” He gave her his business card and some money, urging her to get the help she deserved.
Years passed, and the incident faded into memory. Then, one day, his phone rang. It was the woman. She had taken his advice, gotten the help she needed, gone to college, found a job, and was now a thriving mother. That single moment of stopping to meet a need—of seeing a person’s worth—had an eternal impact on her life and the lives of her children.
We often don’t realize the ripple effect of our actions until we get to heaven, but the truth is, what you do for others is going to echo into eternity.
Your Destiny is Not About You
The challenge for our lives, especially as we look at our Next 10 Decade of Destiny, must shift from a focus on personal acquisition to an outward focus on others. Is your destiny going to be about what you can acquire, or is it going to be about how you can benefit others?
The biblical principle is clear: God never blesses selfishness. He gives us an abundance of blessing when we fulfill a destiny that is linked to serving and benefiting those around us. This is the surest way to get the attention and favor of God!
Givers are the happiest people; selfish people are the most miserable. Fulfilling our destiny and experiencing true, lasting joy happens when we step into the character of Jesus and serve those in need.
The Challenge: Meet a Need This Week
This week, Pastor Kristie’s challenge to us is simple yet powerful: What needs can you meet?
It doesn’t have to be a dramatic rescue. It could be big or small:
- Offering an encouraging word to a coworker.
- Helping a single mom by watching her kids for a couple of hours.
- Assisting a widow whose home needs some love and care.
- Simply being a listening ear for a friend.
Our actions have an eternal impact. Let’s go out this week and be a blessing to someone in need, because in doing so, we are walking directly into the center of our God-given destiny.
