The Least of These

Matthew 25:40-45 (NIV)

“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.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

The story is told of a pastor in a small European village. He was greatly loved by the people, and they believed he had a singularly close relationship with God. He disappeared every Friday and could not be found for several hours. The villagers boasted that during those hours he ascended to heaven and talked with God.

A newcomer to the village was a sceptic who derided the faith of its simple people. Increasingly irritated by claims about the minister, he determined to find out where he spent Fridays. So he hid near the pastor's house. He watched as he rose early, spent time in prayer, and left his house in the clothes of a peasant.

The young skeptic followed the old saint from a safe distance. He watched him fell a tree and cut a great stack of firewood. He continued to watch as he made his way to a shack in the poorest part of the village and stacked the wood. It was the home of an old woman and her sick husband. After leaving the vulnerable couple enough wood to last them a week, the pastor quietly returned to his own home.

The villagers were startled the next Sunday when the young newcomer was in church. Indeed, he became a believer shortly thereafter. He then became a disciple of the church's godly minister and — upon his death — his successor. For the rest of his own life, whenever he heard one of the villagers speak of his predecessor and say, "On Fridays he would ascend to heaven," he would add softly, "If not higher."

How long has it been since you have reached out to somebody to help them? Why not pray today that God will show you who you can share His love with today?

Dear Lord, we pray today that You will show us who we can help today. Help us show Your love through our actions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.