The Living Word: A Daily Devotional with Jeff & Dale from The Jenkins Institute

Week 21: Monday, Christ in the Least

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Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus served others in many ways. In

fact, Jesus clearly explained to His followers that He came not to be

served, but to serve. This is the life to which Jesus has called His

disciples: service.

In His teaching in Matthew 25, Jesus illustrated that the righteous would

ask questions as to when they saw Him hungry or thirsty, as a stranger or

naked, sick or in prison (Matthew 25:37–39). His response to them was

instructive for them and for us today: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to

one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40,

ESV). “The least of these…” Jesus called His followers to serve not just

those who may be considered prominent, but the marginalized as well.

Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that all humanity has been

created in the image of God. The visual lesson from Jesus is that in our

service to others, we are serving Him. If we refrain from serving, we

refrain from serving Jesus.

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Welcome to Hearing God's Stories, a daily devotional on the parables presented by the Jickens Institute Week twenty one Monday Christ in the Least Today's Scripture Matthew twenty five, thirty seven through forty by Keith Harris and I'm Gavin Bearden.

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Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus served others in many ways. In fact, Jesus clearly explained to his followers that he came not to be served but to serve. This is the life to which Jesus has called his disciples service. In his teaching in Matthew twenty five, Jesus illustrated that the righteous would ask questions as to when they saw him hungry or thirsty, as a stranger or naked, sick or in prison. Matthew twenty five thirty seven thirty nine. His response to them was instructive for them and for us today. Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me Matthew twenty five forty. The least of these Jesus called his followers to serve not just those who may be considered prominent, but the marginalized as well. Jesus wanted his disciples to understand that all humanity has been created in the image of God. The visual lesson from Jesus is that in our service to others we are serving him. If we refrain from serving, we refrain from serving Jesus. A quote often attributed to AT Pearson says Whatever is done for good without respect of its comparative character as related to other acts is service, and only that is service. Service is comprehensively speaking, doing the will of God. He is the object, all is for him, for his sake, as unto the Lord, not as unto man. Hence, even the humblest act of the humblest disciple acquires a certain divine quality by its being done with reference to him. As followers of Jesus, we must be intentional in noticing and serving those around us the hungry, lonely, sick, and imprisoned. We must encourage others to engage in service opportunities, understanding that through humble service people will see the love of Christ. Finally, we must strive to see people through the eyes of Jesus and see Jesus in the least of these. Today I will open my eyes to the needs around me and seek to meet those in need.

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Thank you for joining us for the Living Word. For more encouragement and ministry resources, visit the Jesus Institute.com, and may God's richest blessings be yours, is our prayer for you.