Day 26 — The Least of These

“‘For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me’… And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”

— Matthew 25:35–36, 40 (BSB)

Jesus told a story about the end of time, when He will come back as King. He said He will turn to some people and say, “When I was hungry, you fed Me. When I was thirsty, you gave Me a drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed Me. When I needed clothes, you gave them to Me. When I was sick, you took care of Me. When I was in prison, you visited Me.”

And the people will be confused. “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? When did we see You sick or in prison?”

Then Jesus will say something amazing: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”

Who are “the least of these”? They’re people the world often ignores. The poor. The hungry. The sick. The lonely. Strangers and refugees. People in prison. People who can’t pay you back.

Jesus says that when you help one of them, you’re helping Him. Jesus is so closely connected with people who are hurting that caring for them is caring for Him.

That changes how we see people. The homeless man on the street corner. The lonely kid at school. The sick neighbor. The family who just moved here from another country and doesn’t speak much English. Jesus says, When you look at them, see Me.

You might think, I’m just a kid. What can I do? More than you think! Here are some ideas:

• Help your family pack meals or donate food to a food bank.
• Give some of your clothes or toys to a family who needs them.
• Make cards for kids in a hospital.
• Visit a lonely neighbor, or an older person in a nursing home.
• Welcome a new kid who just moved to your school.
• Give part of your allowance to help people in need.
• Pray for people in prison and their families.

Serving “the least of these” isn’t a way to earn God’s love. We serve because we’ve already been loved by Him, when we were needy too.

Think about it: Who are “the least of these” in your community? How could you help one of them?

Try this: Talk with your family about one way you could help people in need together this month, and make a plan to do it.

Dear Jesus, thank You for caring so much about people who are hurting and forgotten. Help me see You in them. Show me how I can help the hungry, the sick, the lonely and the stranger. Whatever I do for them, I want to do for You. In Your name, Amen.