Daily Devotion

Saturday, March 21, 2026  

Today's Scripture
Matthew 25:40

Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.

Reflection

It seems to me that in this passage, Jesus is telling us to see other people as he sees them, as loved children of God. This is a directive that sounds so obvious, but is often difficult to put into practice. Sometimes these loved children of God are difficult to deal with, hard to live with, and almost impossible to understand. Why can’t they just be like we want them to be?

In a recent sermon, Pastor Camille talked about William Sloane Coffin’s idea that we should have limited certainties and unlimited sympathies. As I was considering this passage and trying to listen to the message God has in this scripture for us, I was struck by the idea that we should limit our certainties about how people should think or behave, and that we should have unlimited sympathy for others’ points of view.

It is easy to disagree with people who have a different point of view than we do. It is more difficult to understand where they are coming from and why they see the world the way they do or hold the beliefs they do. If we approach people with limited certainties, we must admit that we do not have all of the answers. If we approach with unlimited sympathy, we are compelled to try to put ourselves in the other’s shoes and try to understand that they are sincere in their beliefs — and perhaps they have something to teach us. We may not always agree, but we can hold fast to the idea that we are all individuals, loved by God.

Prayer

Dear God, help me to see the ‘least of these’ as your beloved children. Lead me to a better understanding of others and teach me to love them as you do. Give me the ability to see what you see in them. Amen.

Written by Juli Crabtree, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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