“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers (and sisters), you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:37-40
In a world of platforms and stages and followings, what does it look like to thrive in a life of the least of these? The least of these jobs where no one notices your work. The least of these moments, snatching five minutes here and there. The least of these changes, where you keep reorienting your life around where you’re going.
The main sermon I’ve preached to myself over the past year has been some variation of “keep going,” “don’t quit,” “faithfulness, not results,” and “this is no place to quit.” I need this message because I’m deep in a small mountain of little things. I’m watching other people do big things. I want to do big things. Yet every morning I wake up to the same work that I had yesterday and the day before that.
One day I thought about lettering that last verse I quoted from Matthew 25 and hanging it in the laundry room. There is so much work involved in clothing people. It’s quiet work that never ends and goes unnoticed unless it’s not done. I haven’t lettered the quote yet, but the verses stuck in my head. Every time I started some mundane task, “the least of these” would run through my head.
God never asks us to be popular or fabulous or impressive. He does ask us to be faithful. And He sets small work, done repeatedly, into our lives to make a kingdom difference. This blog isn’t about motherhood, although we’ll talk about motherhood; this blog is about not giving up and realizing the little things really are the big things. We’re doing it all for His glory.
