(I know I am treading on dangerous ground, but I believe this is what Jesus would say to us as American believers in our comfortable, exclusive churches on Sunday)

You say you love Me. You say you want to follow Me and know My will for your life. You talk about how much you love  Me and want to know Me above all else. But let Me ask you some questions.

I was that badly dressed man who came to your worship service late and sat in the back. Did you see Me?

I was the girl who stood on the outskirts of your circle of friends and listened while you spoke to each other. Did you talk to Me or even notice I was there?

I was the One selling newspapers on the side of the busy street during rush hour, hoping for enough money to buy a meal since I hadn’t eaten in five days. Did you give Me money or buy Me something to eat?

I was dying of AIDS in a hospital all alone with no one to sit beside Me while I was gasping for My last breaths. Did you come to visit Me?

I was the child who was on the verge of pneumonia from not having a coat to wear when it was below freezing outside. Did you clothe Me?

I was the widow grieving over the loss of her husband, not knowing how I was going to make ends meet or how I would even cope with life alone. Did you bring Me words of compassion and warm hugs?

You say you want Me, but you overlook the least of these. You say you love Me, but you don’t show it to My children. You say you want to follow Me, but only so long as it is to places you know where people you know are.

Repent and come back to your First Love. Love Me by loving the poor, the needy, the broken, the brokenhearted and the lonely. Show them My love. Be My hands and feet. Be Me to them.

Then you will find Me. Then you will know Me. Then you will know my Love not in part, but the whole.