Today, in our final day of this first week of the new year, we take our last look at daily spiritual balance. The first four days were all about what is available to you in Christ and what you can experience in your own heart, mind, and spirit. But true spiritual balance will always be found ultimately when we give, when we meet the needs of others. Regardless of our spiritual maturity or growth at any time, we can reach out and help people. And nothing shows Jesus to the world like putting the focus on someone else. To love others as we love ourselves.

This week, we talked about Psalm 23 and David calling God the Good Shepherd. Today, we look at where Jesus called His followers sheep. This is one of the most intriguing passages of Scripture because the heart of God is made very clear as to what He cares about and what gets His attention.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

To find balance in our spiritual lives, we don’t have to complicate things with religion or laws or rules or theology or any of the divisive issues that have hurt the church for thousands of years. We can simply agree that God would have us feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, help the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and help those in prison. The bottom line: see those who the world does not. Take care of those the world will not. Love those the world says are unlovable. Just like Jesus.

Giving to help others in small acts of kindness or large gifts of service or money, and everything in between, can be as easy as breathing in and breathing out. Take in God’s love and give out His love. It really is that simple.

Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to see those You see, hear those You hear, and help those You point me toward. Keep me from religion and lead me deeper into a relationship with You. As above, so below.”