The Unseen Savior
OPENING PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see You in the faces of those we encounter. May we recognize Your presence in the least of these and respond with love and compassion. Amen.
"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
REFLECT:
In his message this weekend, Pastor Christian Hallberg shared a touching story about a single mother undergoing chemotherapy, who found a friend in a member of Pathway’s Care Portal response team. This story illustrates the profound truth that when we serve others, we are serving Christ Himself. Christian reminded us that Jesus identifies with the vulnerable and the marginalized, and when we care for them, we are caring for Him.
In Matthew 25, Jesus makes it clear that our acts of service to the least of these are acts of service to Him. This challenges us to see beyond the surface and recognize the divine presence in those we might otherwise overlook. Christian encouraged us to see the foster children in our community as Christ sees them: valuable, loved, and worthy of our care.
Reflect on the foster care crisis mentioned in the message. These children are often unseen and forgotten, yet they are precious in God's sight. The pastor urged us to open our eyes to their needs and respond with the love of Christ.
As you meditate on this passage, consider how you can see Christ in the faces of those around you. Ask God to give you the eyes to see and the heart to respond with compassion and love.
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will defend the vulnerable with my time or resources. Pathway partners with CarePortal to help meet the needs of those in crisis in our community. Our Foster Care Awareness website (pathwaychurch.com/fostercare) has more info on how you can help.
If you would like to learn more about other ways you can serve, like babysitting, providing temporary respite, what it takes to be a licensed foster family, or helping with food or prayer, Pathway Church will be hosting an informational meeting on August 17, 6:00pm at the Westlink Campus. This is a no pressure meeting to discover how everyone can play a part in supporting families. You can find out more by clicking here.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself in the least of these. Help us to see You in those we serve and to love them as You love us. Amen.