This summer I learned something precious from my 14 year old son. We were working at a camp and my son, Silas, was one of the maintenance boys. The staff boys seemed to be divided into two distinct groups: the popular guys and Silas and another boy. This boy was a little different, mainly naive and a little uncomfortable in his own skin. Probably what people think of when they they think of typical homeschoolers. I noticed that at meals the two groups didn't sit together. They didn't clean together. I asked Silas is everyone was getting along okay and he said everything was fine.
In my heart, wicked and vile thing it is, I was thinking that my son should be hanging with the popular boys and not the odd boy. But Silas seemed oblivious to the emotional distance from the other boys. He seemed content. He was enjoying his friendship with this boy.
And here is the lesson I learned...again. God wasn't impressed with the other boys and their popularity. He wasn't impressed they were better looking. He wasn't impressed that socially they fit in better. He wasn't impressed that they had more friends, were better connected, and better family names.
He was impressed with a boy who looked past all of that and was a good friend of the less desirable boy at the camp.
“And the King will answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto Me.'" (Matthew 25:40)
Everyday and in many ways, you will meet the "least of these". They might be mentally challenged, physically deformed, poverty stricken, just socially awkward or still in the womb. Try to remember that they are made in God's image. Treat them as His representatives on earth. It will cost you popularity and could even sever friendships that you value. But God sees things differently; He sees rightly. Trust His judgment and not your own. Be friends with ones who seek to see people from His view. Eternity will be the just judge.
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, 'Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'” (1 Samuel 16:7)
In Christ,
Denise (Berea's mom)
In my heart, wicked and vile thing it is, I was thinking that my son should be hanging with the popular boys and not the odd boy. But Silas seemed oblivious to the emotional distance from the other boys. He seemed content. He was enjoying his friendship with this boy.
And here is the lesson I learned...again. God wasn't impressed with the other boys and their popularity. He wasn't impressed they were better looking. He wasn't impressed that socially they fit in better. He wasn't impressed that they had more friends, were better connected, and better family names.
He was impressed with a boy who looked past all of that and was a good friend of the less desirable boy at the camp.
“And the King will answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto Me.'" (Matthew 25:40)
Everyday and in many ways, you will meet the "least of these". They might be mentally challenged, physically deformed, poverty stricken, just socially awkward or still in the womb. Try to remember that they are made in God's image. Treat them as His representatives on earth. It will cost you popularity and could even sever friendships that you value. But God sees things differently; He sees rightly. Trust His judgment and not your own. Be friends with ones who seek to see people from His view. Eternity will be the just judge.
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, 'Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'” (1 Samuel 16:7)
In Christ,
Denise (Berea's mom)
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