Lenten Reader | Day 10

March 14th, 2025

Least of These

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“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 25:34-40

I remember the songs from my childhood. “Jesus loves me, this I know,” and “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” The Lord is so loving! He loves and treasures us, and He loves and treasures all His people. And we try our best to love and treasure Him. But we are commanded to not only love and treasure Him, but to love “the least of these” as He does. Wow, that is a tall order!

What does it look like to love and treasure someone? When I love someone, I care about their feelings and about what is on their mind. I am respectful, patient, humble, and gentle when I talk with them. I seek to have a relationship with them. I value them and want to protect them and meet their needs. I see them as an image-bearer of God. I know I very often fall short in doing those things.

It is not always easy to be aware of the needs of those around us. We all have busy lives, and we are not God, right? How can we possibly see people as He does? On my own, I simply cannot. My sinful nature leads me to prioritize what I want and what my family needs. With that self-focus, I become blind to the needs of those around me. I can feel overwhelmed by their needs, or ill-equipped to help them. I need the Lord's help to see people and situations as He does, and to trust that He will be there to help me.

Thankfully, the Lord reveals Himself to us in His Word, so we can gain His perspective. When we spend time in prayer, in His Word, and in Christian community, He will conform us to His likeness – slowly but surely. And as we abide in Him and seek His perspective, He will help us to see people as He does. Praise God that he is willing and able to help us!

Jennifer Schmitt