“Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’

Matthew 25:40 (NCV)

In our self-focused, celebrity-centered, success-driven world, “the least” are ignored. The elderly, no longer revered for their wisdom, are stripped of their purpose and dismissed for their weakness. The hungry are accused of laziness and poor choices. The homeless are blamed for irresponsibility and addiction. And the imprisoned are simply locked up and forgotten—but their mistakes never are. 

In this passage, Jesus is sharing a parable about the final judgment with His disciples. And though there is debate as to the identity of “the least”, the message is the same: Love and care for others. Jesus doesn’t force us to spend time with the lonely, feed the hungry, encourage the homeless, or forgive the mistakes of criminals. But He does command us to love, and He expects us to imitate Him in all aspects of our lives (Ephesians 5:1-2). Rather than demanding, He invites. He invites us to show people who He is through our love. He invites us into His story, but His story doesn’t look like the ones most people dream of. It isn’t focused on ourselves, it doesn’t worship celebrities, and His success looks nothing like the earthly kind. But it does change hearts. It changes lives, And it influences heaven! 

When you said yes to Jesus, you signed up to be a part of His story. It is a story that involves sacrifice and service, love and hope. It is generous and kind and inclusive. It doesn’t rank members of our society, and it never dismisses, ignores, or accuses. It is a story that overflows with grace and has the greatest ending the world will ever know! God is calling you to reach and accept and love “the least”: those who have no idea that they are reachable, acceptable, or lovable! They can be a part of Jesus’ story, too. Invite them in to the greatest adventure of all time! You are loved!