The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV).
Some of my friends and I became involved in starting a Women’s Aglow chapter in Sandy Lake in the 1980’s, and God had lessons for us to learn about “the least of these.” One of the most unusual took place when we attended a Women’s Aglow Conference in New Orleans. While there, we met Jim Dale, a young man with incredible talent, doing glass etching on Bourbon Street.
We soon learned that Jim had been a Christian but had fallen away. He told us that lately he’d wanted to come back to God, but he was afraid he’d committed the unpardonable sin. We prayed with him and assured him that if he wanted to come back to the Lord, it was the Holy Spirit drawing him. We never expected to see him again.
But God brought Jim across our path several more times and eventually, we discovered he was homeless. As we prayed, the Lord spoke to us clearly through one of my devotionals about everyone deserving a chance. One of the ladies had an extra plane ticket, and when all was said and done, Jim returned with us to Pennsylvania.
Although Jim’s story was not an unmitigated success, we gave him the chance to use the gifts God had given him and to be all that God created him to be. I don’t think any of us were ever sorry we had done what God required of us for one of “the least of these.”
Dear Jesus, help us truly understand that whatever we’ve done for “the least of these,” we’ve done it for you. Amen.
Featured photo: One of Jim’s gifts to us, his etching of the good Samaritan parable. 2) Jim working on his artwork in our apartment in the old Potter place on Broad Street in Sandy Lake. Jim passed away in 1994. We still have many reminders in our home of his amazing God-given gift.
(Devotional from Homespun Faith, Reflections from the Seasons of Life, copyright 2014 Daisy Beiler Townsend. Available as paperback or Ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Xulon Press. There are Links on this website on the Where to Buy Homespun Faith and Sarah’s Legacy page. Locally at Fresh Grounds, M & M Grocery, Leana’s Books, Penn Alps in Grantsville, Maryland, or from me 724-373-8445 or donaisy@neo.rr.com.)
