December 23, 2025

DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Tobit 1:6 (not in the Protestant Bible)

But I alone traveled frequently to Jerusalem for the feast days, as it is written for all of Israel in an everlasting ordinance. I would carry the firstfruits and the tithes of my harvest and the first-shearing.

Personal Challenge

Tobit is another one of those special books that you will not find in the Protestant Bible, even though it was in the Scriptures for 1,500 years before Protestantism sprung into existance. Tobit was another one of the exiles that had been removed from his home in Jerusalem and carried far off country. Even so, every chance that he got, he returned to Jerusalem to participate in the feasts that his Jewish faith had established. It was always an in convenience, but for him, it was part of his worship of his God. Christianity is the same for true followers of Christ. Our kingdom is not of this world. We are exiles here. In our commitment to our Lond, we have the opportunity to serve Him as part of our Christian worship. This is not about how many services we go to or how much we donate. It is about how much we are willing to do what Jesus asks us to do, with joy and thanksgiving. What does He ask of us? Here are some clear examples.

Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

and

Matthew 25:33-40

“And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

This is our personal challenge if we are to proclaim to be followers of Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!