Matthew 18:5-11
"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
There is a close connection between Jesus and believers. That's why the Lord said again and again, "Whoever welcome a little child like this in my name welcomes me." In other words, the Lord and believers are one. The Lord told a parable: a king rebukes his servant, "'For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'" The servants are puzzled. They asked: "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'" It is unfortunately that the servants are not looking with their spiritual eyes. Their worldly eyes only see those who have worldly need. They did not see the will of the Lord.
If we don't do for one of the least of our brothers, we do not do for the Lord. We cannot just enter into a ministry for God but not really serve God. Many people like to listen to sermons in church, but do not want to join the ministry, because it is too much trouble. It is true that serving in a church has its troubles. But we can not not serve because of troubles. Are people troublesome? Of course, they are troublesome. But Jesus did not say, "those people are too troublesome. I will not bother with them." The Lord loves us, even gave Himself up for us. Similarly, the Lord wants us to love those who are around us.
What stands between us loving others? Appearance, money? May God rid us those thoughts in our hearts that are not from Him. As the Lord said, "If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away." Of course, the Lord did not ask us to indeed cut our hands. What he referred to was an attitude: For the sake of the Lord, we are willing to get rid of everything that stands in front of us. Is there anything, thoughts, or idea that is hindering you from loving those around you? May God help us by giving us a humble heart. Let us be willing to remove all the obstacles between us and God and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit each and every day!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, May the Holy Spirit shine into our lives and our thoughts in order for us to see all the darkness within us. We pray that the precious blood of the Lord will purify us so that we are clean once again. May the Lord use us and help us love everyone who's loved by the Lord. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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