Published by admin on 27 May 2022
THE LEAST OF THESE
As usual, when I sit to write, I have no clue what it’s going to be about. Well, the LORD gave me the title, so now it’s apparent that I’ll be writing about myself, seeing I’m “the least of these”. It is written in Matthew 25:31-43,
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
I’ve spent 29 years visiting the sick and prisoners, not once considering any of those to be “the least of these”, but always esteeming others better than myself. Why? I never really had an answer to that, but just did it, because my LORD saw fit to suffer and die for me. I’ve seen enough suffering in 29 years to more than last me forever. Suffering isn’t fun, and I’ve had my personal share of suffering as well. It makes a person have pity on those suffering. Right now, I’m suffering again from a back injury, and for the last month have had trouble even getting up and walking. Progress has been little, and that’s using liberal doses of God’s Word at that. So the LORD is perhaps using this to remind me how important it is to go to those who are suffering.
Now of course, I know God hasn’t “allowed this to happen to teach me a lesson”. God teaches His kids from His Word, He doesn’t send the afflicter to afflict them with pain and sickness. No, that’s the devil who does that. Nevertheless, suffering is suffering, and I’m seeing firsthand how few actually reach out and check on people if they haven’t heard from them in a while. I’m a motorcycle rider for the past 56 years, and obviously, I’m not out riding. Just a couple hours ago, one of my biker friends whom I haven’t seen in a month called to check on me. I haven’t been to church in 4 weeks, and not a peep from anyone there. That tells me I’m failing miserably to impart the love for others into that congregation. I’ll let God deal with that..
I said all that to say this in this short “epistle”: if you have friends you haven’t heard from for a while, GO SEE THEM OR AT LEAST CALL, because to the LORD, they aren’t the “least” to Him.
Maybe you’re shut in, if so, I’ll come see you if possible and encourage you. Once again, I’m learning the importance of caring and watching out for your brothers and sisters in Christ, and those who AREN’T your brothers and sisters…..yet. You see, a caring call or visit can break the stony heart of an unbeliever, and let the love of Christ flow in to the point of they will receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. End of rant. Now, you know what to do….just do it. If they’re important to Christ Jesus, they need to be important to YOU! After all, in His eyes, YOU’RE not the least of these, actually, He loves you so much, you’re his favorite child. It’s amazing how the love of God can be so powerful, that each and every one of you are His favorite, even me, the least of these. God bless you! I love you, and Jesus loves you!