Luke 9:44-50
"An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest.'"
Jesus and the disciples had an intimate relationship. The disciples and He were one, and that's why the Lord said: "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me." Also, in a parable that Jesus preached, a king rebuked his servant and said: "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." Then the servants answered, '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?" Unfortunately, the servants only saw the matter with their physical eyes, but not with their spiritual eyes, which would have allowed them to see the reality. They only saw people's physical needs, but they didn't see God's will: If we don't do good things to the most insignificant brother, then we are not doing it to the Lord.
We cannot only serve God but not serve people. Many enjoy coming to church to listen to sermons, but don't want to serve, because they think it's nothing but trouble. Jesus, however, never thought it was troublesome to come to the world. The Lord loves us, to the point of sacrificing for us on the cross so that His great love can be manifested. In the same way, the Lord also wants us to love those around us with the same kind of love. In our hearts, what is hindering us from loving others? If it's their appearance or money, then we ask God to remove those attitudes that don't please God. Just like what God said, if a foot is making you stumble, then cut off the foot, and if an eye is making you stumble, remove the eye. What the Lord meant was an attitude of removing any thought that doesn't please God and any hindrance for love.
Brothers and sisters, is there any thing, any ideology or preconception, which is hindering you from loving people around us? Are you willing to remove your prejudice for the Lord, and remove any thought that belong our sinful nature? When you are able to see the needs of the people around you with the eyes of the Lord, you will have the compassionate heart of the Lord.
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