The Least Of These

THE LEAST OF THESE

Isaiah 58:10 – If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.

I am sensing the Lord is calling us in fresh new ways to minister to the least of these.

Matthew 25:31 – “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”

Matthew 25:32 – “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”

Jesus has deep concern for the least of these.

Matthew 25:34 – Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Matthew 25:35-36 – For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.

Matthew 25:37-39: Then the righteous will answer Him saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?

Matthew 25:40 – And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

We are the body of Christ in the world. We are His hands, His feet, His voice in the earth!

We don’t do this in order to be saved. We do this because we are saved.

We are declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.

We love the least of these because we have been loved by Him!

How do we minister to the least of these?

Luke 10:33 – But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

Luke 10:34 – So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

SEE AS JESUS SEES

Luke 10:33 – And when he saw him…

We want the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see people as Jesus sees people.

In the eyes of our Heavenly Father, every human being is valuable.

Matthew 25:35(ESV) – I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me.

FEEL AS JESUS FELT

Luke 10:33 – And when he saw him, he had compassion.

COMPASSION!

Compassion – moved to the depths of our being, profoundly touched.

Matthew 14:14 – And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 25:36 – I was in prison and you came to Me.

DO WHAT JESUS DID

Luke 10:34 – So he went to him and bandaged his wounds.

Compassion moves us to action.

When Jesus was moved with compassion, He was moved to action.

Mark 1:41 – Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

God will reveal what He has for you to do!

Luke 10:37 – Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Discussion Questions:

Do you find yourself suffering from compassion fatigue? Has your heart become calloused toward the least of these?

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the great needs of others?

What would the Holy Spirit say to us if we are overwhelmed?

The good Samaritan did three things: He saw, he had compassion, he took action. Which of these three is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this morning?

How is God calling you to be involved in ministering to the least of these?