Real Love

By Danny Saavedra

One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of God's nature is that He passionately and relentlessly pursues all people, each and every unique individual “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Each life is valued dearly by Him; so dearly that it cost Him His only Son to redeem the world. 

1 John 4:10 (NLT) says, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) proclaims, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Such love would clearly go any distance to reach the lost and the least—those who are suffering, hurting, and in need. And He has! He still does. And here is the amazing thing: He wants to include us in this amazing work to change lives and save people! He is inviting us to get in the story of salvation. Right now, today, He is calling us to arise and go the distance to reach our neighbor, our nation, and the ends of the earth with His great love.

Another compelling aspect of God’s nature is His profound compassion for “the least of these” . . .  those described in Matthew 25 as the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the naked, and the prisoner. 

All throughout Scripture, the Lord makes very clear His passion and priority for the poor, the orphan, the widow, the oppressed, the afflicted, the enslaved, and yes, even the refugee—whom He calls the “stranger.” His passion is so strong that it’s often revealed as righteous anger. God doesn’t take lightly the immense injustices in the world. 

Whether hidden in a home in America, the brothels of India, the cocoa and fishing industries of Africa, or the tourist destinations of South and Central America, dark and deeply disturbing injustices occur every day, even to the youngest, most innocent children. In today’s world, there’s literally no nation without the presence of the least of these–and sadly the least are the ones who suffer the greatest.

Today’s world carries with it a darkness that shouldn’t sit well with a follower of Christ. Rather, it should produce an uneasiness that’s difficult to dismiss, a deep burden that drives us to act. We were redeemed to carry the light of the world to the least of the world and to live out the command the Lord gave Paul and Barnabas when He said, “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth’” (Acts 13:47 NLT). This is not only a clear command from the Lord, but in Matthew 25:40 (NKJV) we also see it’s the way to Jesus’ heart. He Himself said, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”  What a beautifully tangible opportunity we have to love Jesus! When we love the least . . . we’re loving our Lord. 

Lastly, before we dismiss them too quickly . . . consider that the least of these does not just refer to the poor, the widow, and the orphan . . . this term can also apply to the richest of men and women in the world if they don’t know Jesus. Despite their wealth,  too often, they are among the most lacking. Many carry within them a spiritual poverty and gnawing thirst for something more, something that no amount of money can alleviate or satisfy. They, too, are in great need of a Savior. 

And what about the unreached people groups of the world? Those who’ve never heard the name of Jesus Christ and why He came for us? Over 65,000 people groups are considered unreached today. That adds up to a minimum of two billion individuals who still haven’t been reached with the gospel. We have an amazing opportunity in front of us; we have been given the resources and platform to change lives and bring the hope of Jesus to people around the world like never before!

The mission of making Christ, our Savior, Deliverer, and Redeemer, known to the world isn’t finished. The lost and the least live and die apart from any knowledge of Him . . . unless someone tells them. You can be that someone! You can get in the story and carry His mission to the ends of the earth. You can pray, give, go, and speak. He’s empowered us with the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8), and rest assured . . . all of Heaven is on our side!