Serving the Least of These

 Here is another story shared by my friend, Tamatha Davis.  I asked her permission to post this story in order to encourage and challenge each of us on how we look at "the Least" among us.  This story will be included in her soon-to-be-published devotional book called:  "Forty Days to Freedom".  I hope this wets your appetite for the full meal.  :)

My husband and I run a catering business called Holy Smokes BBQ & Catering.  We have dedicated our business to the Lord, hence the name.  One of the ways that we do that is giving any leftover food we have from our events to the homeless.  Many times when our events end, it is late at night.  Usually my husband and our oldest son are given the task of taking the food to the unseen and often overlooked people that live on the streets of every major US city.  However, one night for some reason my younger children and I tagged along.  This is simply a report of what I saw. 

I saw a group of about seven or eight men all crowding around my husband as he delivered more than likely their first real meal for the day.  Excitement was in the air as he announced the mouth-watering menu of chopped beef sandwiches, barbeque chicken, coleslaw, and barbeque beans.  All of the men secured their plates in various areas of the old dilapidated abandoned strip center where they were sleeping.  Then something unexpected happened. 

They all gathered in a circle, held hands and my husband began to pray.  He prayed for many by name petitioning our Father on their behalf, putting himself in their positions, and laying their requests at the feet of our Great God and King.  When the prayer concluded the all hugged gripping each other tightly ignoring the dirty bodies, hair, and clothes that made each man.  As grown men hardened by the experience of life on the streets began to walk away towards their food, some wiped away tears, a few lingered talking to my husband; I could hear laughter begin to ring out.  These men were being filled - spiritually and physically.  Joy flooded our minivan as I witnessed with my children a glimpse of the body of Christ functioning as God intends it to function.    I wish I could put into words the expression on my children’s faces.   My husband likes to say that he is only doing what God calls us all to do.  No one applauds when you flip the switch and the light comes on.  It is simply designed to give light.  Guess what?  So are we.  God has called each one of us to serve a lost and hurting generation. What are you doing to serve the least of these? 

For I hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.' Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, `Lord, when saw we Thee hungering and fed Thee, or thirsty and gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee a stranger and took Thee in, or naked and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?' And the King shall answer and say unto them, `Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.' Mathew 25:35-40