Let Down | Do Something

37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’”(Matthew 25:31-40 CEB)

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a story about the final judgment. The King separates people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. To those on his right, he says, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." 

The people are confused. "When did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison?" they ask.

And the King replies, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

This passage challenges us in a lot of ways. But one of the things I find most striking is how ordinary the actions Jesus mentions are. He's not talking about grand gestures or dramatic sacrifices. He's talking about giving someone food when they're hungry. Giving someone something to drink when they're thirsty. Welcoming a stranger. Providing clothes. Visiting the sick. Visiting people in prison.

These are simple things. Things any of us could do. But Jesus says that when we do these ordinary things for people who need them, we're actually doing them for him.

During the Christmas season, we often feel pressure to do something big. To make some grand gesture that will really make a difference. To find the perfect gift or throw the perfect party or create the perfect Christmas memory. And when we can't do that, we feel like we're failing at Christmas.

But that's not what Jesus is saying here. Jesus is saying that the small things matter. That the ordinary acts of kindness we show to people around us are actually acts of worship. That when we smile at the frazzled cashier or hold the door for someone carrying packages or let someone merge into traffic or bring a meal to a sick neighbor, we're serving Jesus himself.

Think about what that means. You don't have to save the world to make Christmas meaningful. You don't have to do something extraordinary to share the love of Christ. You just have to notice the people around you and do something – anything – to help.

Maybe it's as simple as smiling while you're waiting in a checkout line. Maybe it's cutting the seasonal cashier a little slack when they take longer to ring up your purchases. Maybe it's holding a door open for someone whose arms are full of packages. Maybe it's inviting a neighbor who's spending Christmas alone to join your family for dinner. Maybe it's using some of the money you would've spent on decorations to help someone who's struggling.

These aren't grand gestures. They're simple acts of kindness. But Jesus says they matter. He says that when we do these small things for others, we're doing them for him.

So if you want to make this Christmas meaningful, if you want to avoid feeling let down when it's all over, don't focus on doing something big. Focus on doing something. Notice the people around you. See their needs. And then do what you can to help – even if it seems small or insignificant. Because to Jesus, nothing we do in love is ever insignificant.

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, help us to see that we don't have to do something extraordinary to serve you. Help us to notice the ordinary needs of the people around us. Give us willing hearts to help in whatever small ways we can. Remind us that when we serve others, we're serving you. Amen.