I’ve been spending Thursday mornings at a local rescue mission, working in the kitchen to help prep food for meals for the residents and people off the street. I love it. One morning, I got to slice up 40 lbs. of beef. They were calling me “the butcher” by the time the morning was over. The crew is a lively bunch, as you can tell.
On one occasion, one person introduced himself to me, with my prompt response being “how long have you been a resident here?” To which he clarified “I work here. I’m on staff.” Oops.
Once the embarrassment of that moment subsided for me, it led me to a reflective thought: as I scanned the room, I realized that it was hard to tell the difference between staff and resident. This is not meant as a slam to the staff; it’s meant as a realization of just how close we all truly are with one another.
It reminded me of how at a similar stage we all are when it comes to the need for God’s abiding grace. On this matter, we’re all in the same boat. Regardless of circumstances, appearances, and surface level manners, every one of us is greatly in need of the love of Christ. At the foot of the cross, we truly are one and the same.
It also brought to mind the story Jesus told in Matthew 25 about broken people in great need of love and redemption, and the choice that some made to step up and contribute. One of the questions that people in the story asked the Son of Man was “When did we see you in need?”
To both those who chose to love others, and those who chose to ignore the need, the presence of God might not have been easy to spot. But Jesus’ response is penetratingly clear: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” In a way, those who chose not to help never saw it coming. They never saw the need because it wasn’t written in the sky or flashed in front of them with neon letters. It was easy for them to miss the need, and focus on something else. And miss God in the process.
When Adolf Eichmann, famous Nazi war criminal, was brought to trial, one writer who covered the affair was astonished at what she saw: a person who looked as normal as the common man or woman on the street. It left her with an uneasy realization that a man who could commit unspeakable horror would not appear as a hideous monster, but instead just like you and me.
Just like you and me. That’s what every desperate, broken, hurting, wounded person on earth looks like. The choice for us as followers of Christ is to decide whether or not they are a worthy recipient of the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ answer is a resounding yes.
On one occasion, one person introduced himself to me, with my prompt response being “how long have you been a resident here?” To which he clarified “I work here. I’m on staff.” Oops.
Once the embarrassment of that moment subsided for me, it led me to a reflective thought: as I scanned the room, I realized that it was hard to tell the difference between staff and resident. This is not meant as a slam to the staff; it’s meant as a realization of just how close we all truly are with one another.
It reminded me of how at a similar stage we all are when it comes to the need for God’s abiding grace. On this matter, we’re all in the same boat. Regardless of circumstances, appearances, and surface level manners, every one of us is greatly in need of the love of Christ. At the foot of the cross, we truly are one and the same.
It also brought to mind the story Jesus told in Matthew 25 about broken people in great need of love and redemption, and the choice that some made to step up and contribute. One of the questions that people in the story asked the Son of Man was “When did we see you in need?”
To both those who chose to love others, and those who chose to ignore the need, the presence of God might not have been easy to spot. But Jesus’ response is penetratingly clear: “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” In a way, those who chose not to help never saw it coming. They never saw the need because it wasn’t written in the sky or flashed in front of them with neon letters. It was easy for them to miss the need, and focus on something else. And miss God in the process.
When Adolf Eichmann, famous Nazi war criminal, was brought to trial, one writer who covered the affair was astonished at what she saw: a person who looked as normal as the common man or woman on the street. It left her with an uneasy realization that a man who could commit unspeakable horror would not appear as a hideous monster, but instead just like you and me.
Just like you and me. That’s what every desperate, broken, hurting, wounded person on earth looks like. The choice for us as followers of Christ is to decide whether or not they are a worthy recipient of the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ answer is a resounding yes.
What will yours be?
