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.

Sleeping on the Floor with Mission Recruits

Matthew 25:41-45 (New International Version)
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.’




Back in 1966, Doug joined an organization called Operation Mobilization for a year of ministry in France. While in London for training, he volunteered to work on a cleanup crew late one night in preparation for a conference that was to begin the next day.


Around 12:30 Am, as Doug swept the front steps of a building, an older gentleman approached and asked if he was in the right place for the conference. Doug assured him he was. "The man had a small bag with him and was dressed very simply," recalls Doug. "I told him I would see if I could find him a place to sleep."


The place Doug found was the room where he had been sleeping on the floor with about 50 others. Laying some padding and a blanket on the floor, he handed the man a towel for a pillow. The stranger thanked Doug and began preparing for bed. Doug asked him if he had eaten.


"No," the man said, "I've been traveling all day"


The two went together to the dining room, where Doug found Corn Flakes, milk, bread, butter, and jam. As they ate, the man expressed his gratitude and told how he and his wife had been working in Switzerland mainly with hippies and travelers.


Upon awaking the next morning, Doug discovered that the man he'd been sharing Corn Flakes with, the man he had accommodated on a cold, hard floor, was none other than the conference speaker, Dr. Francis Schaeffer, one of the most famous Christians of the past century.


Doug smiles about it now. "I have since thought about this occasion many times," he says. "This gracious, kind, humble man of God sleeping on the floor with mission recruits! This was the kind of man I wanted to be."



Dear Lord we pray that our eyes would be open to those around us. Help us to be willing to help those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Showing Love to The Least of These.

Ted Stallard undoubtedly qualifies as the one of "the least." Turned off by school. Very sloppy in appearance. Expressionless. Unattractive. Even his teacher, Miss Thompson, enjoyed bearing down her red pen -- as she placed Xs beside his many wrong answers.



If only she had studied his records more carefully. They read:


1st grade: Ted shows promise with his work and attitude, but (has) poor home situation.


2nd grade: Ted could do better. Mother seriously ill. Receives little help from home.


3rd grade: Ted is good boy but too serious. He is a slow learner. His mother died this year.


4th grade: Ted is very slow, but well-behaved. His father shows no interest whatsoever.


Christmas arrived. The children piled elaborately wrapped gifts on their teacher's desk. Ted brought one too. It was wrapped in brown paper and held together with Scotch Tape. Miss Thompson opened each gift, as the children crowded around to watch. Out of Ted's package fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet, with half of the stones missing, and a bottle of cheap perfume. The children began to snicker. But she silenced them by splashing some of the perfume on her wrist, and letting them smell it. She put the bracelet on too.


At day's end, after the other children had left, Ted came by the teacher's desk and said, "Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother. And the bracelet looks real pretty on you. I'm glad you like my presents." He left. Miss Thompson got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her and to change her attitude.


The next day, the children were greeted by a reformed teacher -- one committed to loving each of them. Especially the slow ones. Especially Ted. Surprisingly -- or maybe, not surprisingly, Ted began to show great improvement. He actually caught up with most of the students and even passed a few.


Time came and went. Miss Thompson heard nothing from Ted for a long time. Then, one day, she received this note:


Dear Miss Thompson:


I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my class.


Love, Ted


Four years later, another note arrived:


Dear Miss Thompson:


They just told me I will be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it.


Love, Ted


And four years later:


Dear Miss Thompson:


As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month, the 27th to be exact. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now; Dad died last year.


Miss Thompson attended that wedding, and sat where Ted's mother would have sat. The compassion she had shown that young man entitled her to that privilege.


Let's have some real courage, and start showing love to "one of the least." He may become a Ted Stallard. Even if that doesn't happen, we will have been faithful to the One who has always treated us -- as unworthy as we are -- like very special people.


“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.’


- Matthew 25:45 (New International Version)






Dear Lord we pray that we would share our love with those around us. Help us not look down on others but look at them with Your eyes and Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.