For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 2:23

I was recently summonsed to appear for jury duty. When I arrived they handed me my paperwork and at the top of one of the pages, were listed the charges that the defendant would be facing. They then ask you questions about whether you have heard about this particular case, what you may have heard and if you have heard about it, did you already determine whether the defendant was guilty or not. I don’t believe that I had heard about the case, but I can tell you that the moment I read the charges I found it difficult not to say that the individual was guilty. I passed judgement, before I even knew what had transpired.

I then realized that I/we do this every single day. We look at others, a homeless person standing at an intersection with a sign that says “I am hungry and need food”, a young woman (clearly impoverished) struggling to cross the street with a number of young children, a baby in a stroller and no wedding ring, a person in line at the grocery store with a public assistance card who is counting out their change for the personal care items that the card won’t pay for. The list just goes on and on and on.

I remember being a child and inviting all my friends from school to my birthday party and the day of the party no one showed up. I was heart broken. Deep down in my young 12 year old heart, I knew why they didn’t come. Their mom’s and dad’s wouldn’t allow it. We were impoverished, our parent’s were known to be alcoholics and abusive, who let’s their children go to that house. It never the less, broke my heart.

You would think that experiences like that (and of course there were others) would keep you from judging others, but it is in our flesh and we do it. Now, that IS NO EXCUSE! But it is what we do.

In Matthew 25:31-45 Jesus himself tells us how significant those who are hungry and/or hurting are to Him. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 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, you did it to me’.

How many times have we all passed by a homeless person and not attempted to assist them, because we passed judgement on them? How many times have we not offered to help that single mom get across the street with her carriage and three babies in tow, because we passed judgement? How many times have we failed to offer to pay for the items that person with the Public Assistance card needed or even showed them simple patience and kindness, because we passed judgement? To us, they were simply Insignificant. It sounds harsh to say that, but our actions prove it!

Jesus, until we stand before His throne, will not pass judgement because God desires that none should perish. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

Praise God that He does wait, or we might all already be condemned. To Him, NONE are Insignificant.

I pray that, starting today, we would have new eyes of compassion, that we would have the eyes of our Savior. I pray that we would see those around us the way that He sees them. I pray that our hearts would break and not judge, that we would be His hands and feet and meet needs and love on people, not push them away. And, I pray that we would remember those times in our lives when perhaps we were “the least of these” and He sent someone into our lives to be His hands and Feet. I pray that we would praise Him and give Him all the adoration, honor and glory that He deserves

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, or feel that you are one of the judged and unloved, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page and pray the prayer outlined there. Once you have done that, please, please reach out to me and let me know. I would love to help you grow in your knowledge and relationship with our Precious Savior.

Luv ya!