Matthew 25:40
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
The real question is, do we really believe this verse? I mean, really? Do we truly believe that the seemingly insignificant interactions that we take part in throughout the day are a real life encounters with the person of Jesus Christ? I believe it may just be easier to say that we don’t really believe this. For to say that we do would require a lot of action. It would require a complete change of life. I don’t know if I’m ready for that kind of adjustment, are you?
That’s a question worth some real time and consideration. It is a question that will have a vital impact on the way we live our day to day lives. It is a question that will challenge our priorities and reveal the true state of our hearts. It is a question that will absolutely transform and redefine our interpersonal relationships.
You see, according to this scripture, we meet Jesus everyday. It’s easy to forget that. It’s so easy to compartmentalize Him to the early morning moments of waking, the prayer times at breakfast, lunch, and dinner (if even that), the moments of bible-reading, prayer, and church attendance. For some of us “holy ones”, our compartmentalization of our Lord may even span into what we call “ministry”…a time allotted to service. It’s funny how we somehow believe we have the authority to decide what part of our lives to give him, and what part of our lives to refrain from giving him.
According to this scripture, we no longer have the authority. According to the words of our Lord our interactions with Him no longer have their time and place. According to these words, those whom Jesus calls his own are the ones who have recognized him all throughout their day. They have acknowledged the everyday Jesus.
How have they acknowledged him, you may ask? We find the simple truth hidden in the words of this profound passage. Our Lord always seems to appear where we least expect him. Just like He did two thousand years ago through the form of an infant child, He again comes to meet us in the most unexpected ways: through the least of these. We will find him through the least of these. We will interact with him through the least of these. We will serve him, only through the least of these.
This calls for a true reordering of our worlds, doesn’t it? For most of us, if we truly come to terms with the our priorities throughout the day, it is not the least of these that we are diligently working to serve. It is not the least of these whom we strive to impress and awe. It is not the least of these with whom we spend our time, give our money, and invite into our homes. It seems as if we have truly missed it. And in the process, we have also missed our Lord. Are you ready for a transformation?
Forgive us, Lord, for we have failed to encounter you in the day to day. Instill in us a renewed passion for the least of these, for you yourself came in that form. Give us the humility it takes to find you there.
This is such an amazing reminder and challenging thought...what would the world look like if we as Christians sought to experience God through our daily interactions?
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is we often pray for God to open doors for us or to help us experience him more, when the reality is he gives us that opportunity with each individual we come into contact with on a daily basis. My hope is echoed by your prayer that we would be "instilled with a renewed passion for the least of these". It is through these interactions we can show the love of Christ and in them that we ourselves will experience the richness of Christ's love and grace.
And isn't it characteristic of our society that the recommendation is that we follow those who might be able to engage in reciprocity. That those we follow might scratch our back if we scratch theirs...but Jesus tells us the opposite. The least of these cannot repay anything or reward us in anyway. Yet Jesus calls us to love the unlovely, the helpless, and yes, the "least of these". I am praying for that same prayer, to be "instilled with a renewed passion for the least of these".
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the idea of reciprocity...I believe we are drawn toward that without even realizing it, in all areas of our life. Thanks for the reminder, Melanie! Glad to hear your thoughts!
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