The Least of These

February 12

Exodus 28

Psalm 21:8-13

Proverbs 5:1-2

Matthew 25:31-46

The Least of These

“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 King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.”  Matthew 25:35-36, 40 NIV

Kindness does not come naturally.  Most of us go through our days struggling to meet our needs and the needs of our loved ones.  We barely find the time to feed, clothe, and care for those we are responsible for.  We occasionally make a meal for a sick friend and at Christmas we buy presents for an angel tree child and think we have fulfilled our responsibility.  Have we?  Is this what He is referring to here?  When we stand before our Lord will He look at our lives and say that we were kind and compassionate to the least of these brothers?  Please don’t misunderstand me, I do not believe that we have to work and be kind and give to others to earn our salvation.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) However, I believe that when we have received God’s grace and have been forgiven and redeemed, we are filled with a love and gratitude for what He has done for us.  This overflows in us and we will want to share this love with others.  A kindness and compassion flow out of us that is not natural.  It comes from the work of the Holy Spirit in us.  I have begun to ask the Lord daily to make me aware of the needs around me and to show me ways that I can show love to the least of these.  Sometimes it takes me out of my comfort zone, but I am always amazed at the blessing I receive from obeying His leading.