We were created to worship Christ the King. What does this mean, though? How can we describe “worshiping Jesus” to those who don’t know him yet?

When talking about worship it is important to remember that Jesus doesn’t need our worship; he is not an insecure and selfish dictator. Rather, being created for worship means that we, like mirrors at a 45-degree angle, reflect the glory and character of God into creation and the praises of creation back to God. Jesus wants us to worship him so that we might reflect him. In Matthew 25, we find a beautiful example of what this looks like: caring for the hungry, the thirsty, the foreigners, the naked, the sick and the prisoners. Jesus takes the way we treat them personally.

Who we worship is evident in the way we treat the vulnerable.

When we serve the least we’re doing what Jesus is doing. Jesus is the most loving and most humble being in the universe, and those who truly worship him will reflect his attitude.

In the judgment parable in Matthew 25, Jesus is judging the nations of the world based on how they treated the vulnerable. A good example of this is the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, in Acts 10 who was commended by an angel of God for his continued prayers and giving of alms to the poor. In other words, who Cornelius worshiped was evident in the way he treated the vulnerable.

Jesus’s judgment is against selfishness and hardness of heart. These sins distort his image-bearers and corrupt his good creation because God himself is full of compassion and humility. Heaven will be filled with people whose hearts are in alignment with this amazing God.

Taking it home: How can you get involved in serving the hungry, the thirsty, the foreigner, the naked, the sick or the prisoner? Ask Jesus to soften your heart and to provide opportunities.