Least part 5
I really think we get in our own way most of the time. I really think our "worst enemy" is right between our ears. (Which is, of course, why God gave us the mind of Christ.) I think we put too much pressure on things and always want to make things fit into boxes. We have an "us and them" mentality, and a "snapshot mentality." We do just enough to stay out of trouble (which basically describes the Old Covenant) and then we complain about never being able to get ahead in life. I think about "success" kind of a lot. Especially as a pastor. And I'll tell you right now, if I defined success by nickels and noses then I'd have to consider myself a gigantic failure. But to me it's not about having a big platform. And I understand that the more people you reach, the more people you can help. I'm not against that. But I think it's important to, as Jesus put it, "Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:16 Message Bible). Most other translations say, "make disciples." And to me what this means is joining together with people. Teaching them. Learning and growing with them. Connecting with them. Having relationship with them. That's how this "Christianity" thing really works. It isn't just about getting to heaven someday. It's about experiencing heaven right now. It's not about doing the least you can do, it's about having an abundant life. And an abundant life is a life that is full of love. You can't love unless you have someone TO love. Beause love is a verb (an action word) not a noun (a person, place, or thing)--even though really love IS a person, and His name is Jesus. His name is you. But I digress. What I'm trying to say is that it's not good for man to be alone. We can't love God without loving people. We love God BY loving people. And we love people--not by condemning them, not by attacking them and demanding them to change--by meeting them where they're at and making our strength perfect in their weakness by helping them. When somebody's down he doesn't need to be kicked. He needs to be helped up. Let me say it another way, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:15-16). The least we can do if someone is hungry... is feed them. And oftentimes the least we can do... is exactly what someone needs. Whatever we do to the least of them we do unto the Lord. So what's it all about? Love. Love flowing into us (from the Father) and out of us (into each other). That's abundant life. A life of being loved and loving each other with that same love. It doesn't have to seem huge, because if it's love it never fails. And that IS huge. It's the biggest, most powerful thing in the universe. It's not the least. It's the most!