Transcript:

Hi there, my name is Jeff Arthur with the Values Conversation here to talk to you about how, “If you do it to the least of these my brethren, you’ve done it under me.” Matthew Chapter 25.

Max Lucado recounts a story that I’ve heard at other places before but I love the way Max said about how Francis of Assisi turned his back on his wealth and his prestige to devote his life to God. Stripped himself naked and walked out of the city. After walking out of the city and on his journey to serve God, he encountered a leper not too far down the road. He passed him by. Stopped. Turned around. Went back to the leper and embraced him. Understand there was no cure, there is no cure for leprosy. No one knew how you contracted it. By embracing this man he very well could contract the deadly disease of leprosy. He embraced him to show him that he loved him. That he wasn’t marginalized. That he wasn’t unimportant. That Francis loved him.

He then got up, went on down the road and as he went on down a little bit he turned again to go back to the leper and talk to him only to discover that the leper was gone and no matter where he searched, he couldn’t find the leper. Francis of Assisi spend the rest of his life believing and leading his ministry in a way to understand that he always believed that that leper he encountered that day, was Jesus Christ to see if Francis really was going to devote everything to him. When you go to the least of these, the marginalized, the people no one else sees or cares about, you’ve done it to Christ. Who do you notice today?

My name is Jeff Arthur with a Values Conversation. You can find out more about us online at tvcleadership.com.