The Least
"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased and he that humbles himself shall be exalted." – Luke 18:9-14
As I seek the Holy Spirit's guidance before I write, He often provides a message of encouragement for those who believe they are unworthy, unprepared, and unequipped for service to God's kingdom. Jesus calls each one of us to serve Him, and He takes special joy in using those who have been humbled. Many of us have gone our own way and failed. Only then did we seek the Lord and His salvation. We have been humbled by life and God's grace is a precious gift that we undoubtedly do not deserve.
Today, the Spirit is leading me to address another segment of believers. Before I was arrested, I had an attitude like the Pharisees. I went to church on Sundays, contributed to the offering plate, and thought of myself as a "good person" overall. I believed that I was going to heaven because I was deserving, thus I was judgmental to others who did not meet my standard. Those who had broken the law, been to prison, or had their sins discovered and opened to public ridicule were a separate class of people. They sinned and were being punished. They deserved what they had gotten and I had no business mixing with such people. I would not invite an ex-con over for dinner. My pride deceived me, and I judged myself by other people instead of by the perfect standard of God.
Many church congregations today are filled with "good Christians" who have this same mindset. If a lost soul who is poor, homeless, in the wrong state of dress, or fresh from prison comes in the door, they may be quickly escorted out. Other times they are ignored being and are expected to take the hint. Too often only those who meet the church's standards are welcomed there, forgetting that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23).” We forget that everything we are and all that we have was given to us as a gift. We stand only by the Father's love, grace, and mercy which upholds us.
Jesus has saved each of us. We may believe that we have done a pretty good job of keeping His commands and doing good, but we have all sinned against God. No one measures up, so when we accept God's mercy and fail to extend that same mercy to others, we open ourselves to God's wrath (Matthew 18:32-35). Jesus chastised the Pharisees because they were self-righteous. While they kept the Law, they did not have love or mercy. They overlooked their own failings while judging others. This should be a warning for us all.
We are called to love and forgive, for “inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40).” We are called to lift up the fallen, because Christ's body has no unimportant parts. When we hurt our toe, we do not cut it off. We bandage it. Often broken or hurting people avoid going to Church because they believe that they will be judged, and they are often proven right. Jesus came to call sinners, yet we turn them away. Jesus calls the broken and humble to be His soldiers.
Today, I encourage you to help lift and equip the "least of these my brethren," for we have no greater calling.
