GOD OF THE LEAST, THE LAST, AND THE LOST

Throughout Scripture, we see God's unwavering love for the least, the last, and the lost. While the world often overlooks, rejects, and forgets these individuals, God seeks them, lifts them up, and calls them His own.

THE LEAST: God Exalts the Humble

In Matthew 5:3, Jesus proclaims: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The world may see weakness in the least -- those who lack wealth, status, or power -- but God sees value. He calls us to humility, reminding us that greatness in His kingdom is not measured by possessions but by a surrendered heart.

THE LAST: God Raises the Lowly

Jesus said in Matthew 20:16, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Those who are pushed aside -- ignored, forgotten, or considered unworthy -- are the very ones Jesus embraced. He flipped human expectations, showing that His love knows no ranking, and His grace extends beyond worldly judgment.

THE LOST: God Seeks the Wandering

Jesus makes His mission clear in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” No matter how far someone strays, no matter how broken their past, Jesus searches for them. Like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep (Luke 15:4-6), He relentlessly pursues those who need Him most.

THE CALL TO US

God’s heart has always been for the outcast, the forgotten, and the wandering. He calls us to reflect His love -- embracing the least, uplifting the last, and seeking the lost. Whether that means caring for the vulnerable, offering kindness to the overlooked, or sharing the gospel with the hurting, we are invited to be His hands and feet in this world. 

 -- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

#6117

THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST

“Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19b-20 NIV)

Jesus' hands and feet were not just anyone's hands and feet, but the signs of His real bodily presence. They were the hands and feet of Jesus marked with the wounds of His Crucifixion.  It is of great spiritual importance that Jesus made Himself known to His disciples by showing them His wounded body.  The Resurrection had not taken His wounds away, but, rather, they had become part of His Glory.  They had become glorified wounds.

Jesus is the Lord who came to save us by dying for us on the Cross.  The wounds in Jesus' glorified body remind us of the way in which we are saved.  But they also remind us that our own wounds are much more than roadblocks on our way to God.  They show us our own unique way to follow the suffering Christ, and they are destined to become glorified in our resurrected life.  Just as Jesus was identified by His wounds, so are we.

This mystery is hard to grasp, but it is of the greatest importance in helping us to deal with our own brokenness. 

-- Henri Nouwen 

#5071

WHAT ARE YOUR FEET DOING?

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”  (Proverbs 6:16-19)

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”  (Isaiah 52:7)

If you want to know who you are, watch your feet. Because where your feet take you, that is who you are. 

-- Frederick Buechner in “The Alphabet of Grace”

#4968

KNOWING WHAT'S MEANINGFUL

You'll know something becomes meaningful when it goes from your head to your heart to your hands.


-- Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz in God Is in the Small Stuff




#3867

THE BODY OF CHRIST

A church in Strasbourg, Germany, was destroyed during World War II.  After the bombing, the members went to see what was left and found the entire roof caved in.  Much to their surprise, a statue of Christ with outstretched hands was still standing.  It was intact, except a falling beam had sheared off both hands.  The people asked a sculptor if he could replace the hands on the statue.  He was willing, and he even offered to do the work for nothing.  The church officials met to consider the sculptor's proposition but decided not to accept his offer.  Why?  Because they felt that the statue without hands would be the greatest message possible that God's work is done with human hands through His people.

God gives gifts to believers so we can be His hands, His feet, and His mouth, fully equipped "for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"  (Ephesians 4:12).

-- Lenya Heitzig and Penny Pierce Rose in Pathway to God's Treasure: Ephesians


#3436