Who Did You Walk Past? | Restoring Warriors Daily Devotional | Matthew 25:42-43

In Matthew 25:42–43, Jesus confronts something most men overlook:

It’s not always what you did wrong—
it’s what you didn’t do at all.

These men weren’t cruel.
They didn’t attack or harm anyone.

They just kept walking.

They saw the need… and stayed busy.
They noticed the moment… and moved on.

And that was the failure: neglect.

Because obedience isn’t always big or dramatic—
it’s often small, inconvenient, and right in front of you.

The friend who’s struggling.
The family member who feels alone.
The person who just needs to be seen.

We think serving God requires big moves—
but most of the time, it’s about not missing the moment.

Big Question:
Who have you been walking past?

Challenge:
Think of one person you’ve overlooked this week—
and reach out today. Text them. Call them. Show up.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment.
Take action now.

Prayer:
Lord, slow me down. Open my eyes to the people around me. Give me the awareness and courage to step in instead of walking past. Teach me to love through action. Amen.

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Transcript

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But but they simply didn't step in when they had the chance. All right, they saw the need, but they kept moving. Hey, welcome back to the Restoring Warriors Daily Devotional, where our goal is to challenge men to jump into their calling and boldly spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hey, right now, Restoring Warriors is expanding. Okay, we're putting expansion groups in men's living rooms all over the country, and we're currently building a powerful online platform. And if you want to get in on it, go to RestoringWarriors.com, click on join a group, and we will direct you from there. All right, we're back in the book of Matthew today, chapter 25. We're in verses 42 and 43. Jesus says this, For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you didn't invite me in. I needed clothes and you didn't clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you didn't look after me. All right, so most men, we don't intentionally ignore people around us who are in need. I don't think we're going out and trying to be cold or selfish, maybe some of us. All right, but life gets busy. We know that. We stay focused on our schedules, we we stay focused on our own responsibilities and our own problems, all right? And in the process, we walk past so many different opportunities to love, to serve, and to lead. All right. And in this passage, the failure, it wasn't cruelty, it wasn't guys just out there being mean to one another, it was neglect. All right, these men didn't harm anybody, but but they simply didn't step in when they had the chance. All right, they saw the need, but they kept moving. All right, and that should be a mirror for us. Okay, who in your life right now needs attention? Is there a friend who's struggling? Do you have a family member who feels alone? Is there a brother around you who needs encouragement or just a stranger who just needs to be seen? All right, we often think that serving God requires these big dramatic acts, but but more often, obedience looks like these small, inconvenient moments, okay? Like it's gonna require some effort to help that person who's struggling over there. But but it's those small moments, showing up, reaching out, lending a hand, those are the moments. All right, and the question isn't whether whether you believe the right things, because I think a lot of us do, but the question we should ask ourselves is hey, who did I walk past today? All right, now pull it your journals. We're gonna do a little bit of a reflection exercise. Take five minutes or so, and just reflect on this question I'm gonna ask here. Use this journaling time as as a prayerful time with the Lord. Invite the Holy Spirit into this. Who's one person in your life right now that you know needs your support, but you've been too busy or too distracted to step in and help? All right, here's your challenge for today is identify one person you may have overlooked this week. All right, reach out to them today, send a message, make a call, offer practical help. All right, don't wait for the perfect moment, just take action, reach out to them. All right, and here's our prayer. Heavenly Father, Lord, open my eyes to the people around me who need care, who need encouragement, and need support. Lord, help me to slow down slow down and notice the needs that are in front of me and to respond with compassion. Lord, give me the courage to step in instead of walking past. Teach me to serve faithfully in the small moments, knowing that when I love others, I'm honoring you. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Hey, thank you for tuning in today. If you were encouraged by this devotional, I encourage you to send it off to a friend. Like, comment, subscribe, all that helps us in the rankings, the algorithms, it helps us spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hey, we absolutely love being on this journey with you every single day. Can't wait to see you on the next one.