True greatness is found in serving others with everyday acts of kindness, recognizing and loving Jesus in the overlooked and ordinary people around us.
Some of the most breathtaking moments with Jesus arrive in ordinary clothes. A paper cup of water handed to a weary worker. A brown-bag sandwich shared on a bench. A text sent at midnight that says, “I’m here.” He has a way of walking into our Mondays and Market Streets, our waiting rooms and worn-out places. And when He comes, He often wears a face we might have passed by yesterday.
What if the King of glory stands in the checkout line ahead of you? What if the Savior sits across from you on the city bus? What if the Lord lingers in the quiet corner of the hospital corridor? The Scriptures tell us that the presence of Jesus is not far away. He is near—near enough to notice, near enough to need a touch of tenderness from His people.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” That sounds like the kind of greatness Jesus has in mind—greatness that kneels, kindness that moves, mercy that rolls up sleeves. The world measures greatness by headlines and highlights. Heaven celebrates greatness by handshakes and humble help, by small acts of steady love.
Maybe you feel tired today. Maybe your hands feel empty. Here is good news: God loves to put grace into those hands. He fills them with courage and compassion, then points them toward the least noticed, the last in line, the lonely heart. This is where we discover Him—where care meets need, where love has legs, where faith turns into footsteps.
If you listen closely, you can almost hear the whisper of the King: “I was hungry… I was thirsty… I was a stranger…” These are not instructions floating in the clouds. They are invitations tied to real names and actual addresses. A care package for a college student. A ride to a clinic. A warm coat for a neighbor. A visit behind bars that shines like sunlight through iron bars. When we step toward the “least of these,” we are stepping toward Him.
Before we open our text, let’s ask a few questions of our hearts. Who is the person God keeps putting in your path? Where is the ache that keeps catching your eye? How might the Spirit nudge you to make room at your table, margin in your calendar, warmth in your words? Mercy begins with notice. Love lingers long enough to listen. Service starts with a simple yes.
Let’s hear the words of Jesus.
Matthew 25:35-40 (ESV) 35 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, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 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.’
Opening Prayer: Father, thank You for the kindness that found us, the mercy that mended us, and the grace that gathered us today. Open our eyes to see Jesus in faces we might overlook. Open our ears to the quiet cry of those who hunger, thirst, and ache. Open our hands to serve with joy, to give with generosity, to visit with tenderness, and to welcome with warmth. Make our love visible, our faith active, and our steps Spirit-led. King Jesus, teach us to meet You in the least, to honor You in acts of mercy, and to follow You in intentional service. We ask this in Your holy name. Amen.
The King speaks in simple words. He names hunger, thirst, exile, lack, illness, and confinement. He ties his own name to people who carry these weights. That changes how we see the street, the home, the ward, the cell.
When the King says, “You did it to me,” He gives a new lens. The person in need is not a project. The person in need is a neighbor with the imprint of God. To move toward that person is to move toward Him.
This is more than a feeling. It is more than a nice thought or a warm wish. It is a way to meet the Lord with your sleeves rolled up and your heart open.
This truth gives weight to small acts. A simple meal carries glory. A glass of water carries glory. A visit carries glory. His presence meets us in these moments, and that makes the common holy.
It also guards the heart. Pride shrinks when we see Him in the other. Harsh words soften. We start to speak with care, to look people in the eye, to call them by name, because He has placed His name there.
Look at the list Jesus gives. Food for an empty stomach. Drink for a dry mouth. Welcome for someone far from home. Clothes for a body without covering. Care for a fevered friend. Company for a person behind a locked door.
These are not complicated tasks. They sit within reach of ordinary people. They fit into a normal day. They invite steady love and simple steps.
Each action matches the heart of God. He feeds His people in the wilderness. He brings rivers to dry ground. He gathers exiles and makes room at His table. He covers shame and heals the sick. He does not forget those in chains.
So the church learns His ways by doing these things. We keep a pantry and we share. We keep water near and we share. We open the front door and we share. We check on the sick and we share. We walk into hard places and we share.
Notice the surprise in the passage. The people who are praised do not even know they met the King. They ask, “When did we see you?” They served without looking for credit. They loved without keeping score.
This shows something deep about real love. It moves first. It does not wait until every detail is clear. It sees a person and steps close. It trusts that Jesus is close to them and close to us in the act.
This also frees us from showy acts. We do not need a big stage. We do not need a camera. Quiet faithfulness counts. The King sees, and His word is enough.
Their question also guides our prayers. “When did we see you?” can become a daily ask. Lord, help me see. Help me notice. Help me step in. Help me treat each person like I am touching Your heart.
There is a phrase in the text that matters. The King speaks of His family. He links Himself with those who bear His name. Care for them is care for Him.
This helps us set some rings of care. We start with the household of faith. We hold each other up. We carry meals to a member who is weak. We cover a bill for a widow. We visit a brother who cannot leave his bed. We write to a sister who sits in a cell.
The ring does not end there. Love keeps moving. The table grows. The neighborhood comes near. The stranger becomes a neighbor. The person with no one becomes someone we know.
When the King returns, He speaks about these acts. He does not ask about status or fame. He speaks about faces and needs and deeds. He remembers, even the small parts we forget.
This does not turn grace into a trade. It shows what grace does. Grace makes hands open. Grace makes feet move. Grace gives time. Grace changes how we count the day.
So we plan for mercy like we plan for meals. We set aside time and funds. We keep a list of names. We keep a list of places. We build habits that keep us near real needs.
Think of some next steps. Learn the names of people who are new in town. Keep extra food in your cart to share with a family you know. Carry a spare set of gloves when the weather turns cold. Offer rides to care visits. Write letters to someone inside. Bring books. Bring hope.
Think of partnerships. Join a team that visits care centers. Support a local shelter. Link arms with a group that helps people settle in a new place. Stand with those who cannot stand alone. Stay. Keep showing up.
Think of posture. Move slow. Ask kind questions. Listen more than you speak. Let the person set the pace. Let dignity lead the way. Pray as you go. Pray with them when you can.
Think of your home. Make a space at the table for guests. Keep a pot of soup ready on hard weeks. Keep a blanket by the door to share. Teach your kids to greet by name. Let them help pack a bag for someone who needs one.
Think of the body of Christ. Form small teams so no one carries the load alone. Share stories so faith grows. Share needs so help can move fast. Share thanks so joy spreads.
Think of the King. He sees. He cares. He remembers. He draws near to the weak. He also draws near to those who draw near to the weak. That is His promise and His way.
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