The importance of 1
Society tends to marginalize minorities. It seems that the thought is “if the majority is fine, things are fine.” But it is not so in the kingdom of God. In the kingdom of God minorities are important.
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just. – Luke 13-14
Maybe in human mathematics 1 out of 100 is not so important, but in heaven’s mathematics 1 is important. In the kingdom of God every individual is important. Although it is clear that salvation is for everyone, the salvation invitation is made to each person individually.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16
We can see through the Gospels that although Jesus did miracles in which crowds were blessed, most of his miracles were done out of compassion for a person in need.
- We see Jesus having compassion by healing the paralytic who had spent years waiting for a miracle. – John 5:2-9
- We see Jesus showing compassion for the widow who was in her way to bury her only son – Luke 7:12-15
- We see Jesus extending his compassion for the woman caught in adultery, not condemning her and inviting her to live a life of holiness – John 8:3-11
- We see Jesus showing compassion when he decided to go through Samaria order to meet a woman in need – John 4:3-42
- We see Jesus acting with compassion by restoring the sight to Bartimaeus when he begged for healing – Mark 10:46-52
- We see Jesus manifesting compassion when he healed the ear of one of those who came to arrest him – Luke 22:49-51
- We see Jesus showing compassion when he healed a demon-possessed boy – Luke 9:38-42
- We see Jesus exposing his compassion even for those who were not accepted by society when he went to dinner with Zacchaeus and offered him Salvation – Luke 19:1-9
If God cares so much for the needy, why don’t we do the same? Why don’t we have compassion of those who have not yet received the grace of God? Why do sometimes instead of welcoming the unbelievers we become a stumbling block? The Bible does not address this situation slightly:
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. – Matthew 18:6
Moreover, the word condemns inaction in these cases:
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” – Matthew 25:41-46
Let’s pray for God to open our eyes that we may see and light up our hearts so we can have compassion on the sick, the homeless, the sad, the depressed, the sinner and everyone in need around us.
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