As you did it for one of the least of these…

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭35‬-‭36‬ ‭ESV

I was spending time with God and this came across my path.

It got me thinking.

How many people do I know that fit these qualifiers? And how many times did I respond this way? How many times did I feed someone who is hungry, or give someone thirsty a drink? How many times did I invite a stranger in? How many times did I clothe a naked person? How many times did I care for a sick person? Or visit someone in prison?

Then I started thinking that these are not only physical needs, but deeper needs as well.

I can feed people bread all day long, but have I fed them the gospel? The true bread? 

I can give people water to drink, but have I spent time praying with them to be filled by the living water that is the Holy Spirit?

I can invite strangers to be a part of the church or program I’m in. But I have I invited them to be a part of my circle?

I can give clothing to people who need it. But have I clothed their vulnerability with compassion instead of judgment?

I can care for a person who sick, but have I walked alongside them through their journey of healing?

I can visit someone in prison, but have I spent time to get to know them and meet them in the prison they’re really in?

This passage reminds me it’s not just about meeting their physical need. It starts there, but it goes deeper.

People hunger for more than just food, they thirst for more than just water. They long for companionship, and compassion.

It’s not just a one off. 

We love others because of the love Jesus showed us. And we continually love others because he continually loves us. He continually meets these needs, and he calls us to partner with him in the doing.

If you see opportunities to love people like this, do not pass them up. You will be greatly blessed for the blessing you bestow others.