Friday, August 7, 2026
And the King will answer them, 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
Jesus Is With Us In The Lonely Places
A few Sunday’s ago, Pastor Jim said that loneliness feels a lot like brokenness. Just being lonely does feel broken sometimes and people who treat us as outcasts can really make us feel broken and lonely. We don’t just feel left out, we feel unwanted. Maybe you have experienced that feeling of being pushed out of a group you belonged to such as a friend group or a family you are no longer a part of.
We are often driven to ministry and to care for a specific group of people out of the experiences we have had in our lives. Jesus is drawn to everyone because he is the Son of God. He loves, cares about, and died for all people but he did know what it felt like to be an outcast. He was rejected and shunned. He was publicly humiliated and harassed and eventually lost his life so that even those who nailed him to the cross had the ability to repent and have eternal life. He also knew that he could fulfill a need for them that nothing and no one else ever could. He restored in them what society had taken. He modeled for us over and over again with his life how we, as his children, are to live and love. He showed us how we are to care for outcasts.
In the loneliest and darkest places Jesus is there. He is there when we are rejected. He is there when we are betrayed. He is there when we are left out. He is there when we are forgotten. Even when it doesn’t feel like it and we have no answers, he is always there. He is with us and never leaves us when others do. When we are outsiders he always takes us in. One thing we can know for certain is that Jesus is never finished with us. He has also given us the gift of the Holy Spirit who is always with us and is our comforter.
For the outcast, when the world shows them rejection Jesus shows unconditional love and acceptance. When the world shows them they are unwelcome, Jesus welcomes them and cares for them. When the world makes them feel worthless, Jesus restores their dignity, lifts their heads and takes them as his very own family. Jesus’ love displayed for outcasts knows no bounds. It does not fall within the bounds of what is “socially acceptable” but instead challenges social barriers, prejudices and demonstrates the all-encompassing love of God. This is how Jesus’ love brings hope to an outcast. It is transformative and life changing. It is restorative and healing. It changes everything.
As God’s children we are the walking around, living, breathing extension of him on earth. We are all the “least of these” on some level. We are all made in the image of God and his children and we are called to love outcasts like he did. We are called to not make people feel like outcasts. Our lives should point them to Jesus and draw them to him through our words and actions.
Do you know anyone who might feel lonely and rejected in this season of their life? How can you pour into them today showing them the love of Jesus?
