I have recently been reading a biography on Mother Teresa and something she expounded on gave me a whole new perspective on ministering to people. When asked the question, “How do you tend to the needy, poor, and dying with so much love and care,” she gave a brief and simple explanation: “I see them as Jesus.” After this statement she continued by giving a more in depth explanation. When she fed a poor person and took them in, she was not feeding a person, but was feeding Jesus; when she clothed the naked, she was clothing Jesus.

When I first read this my instant thought was “but they’re not Jesus.” As soon as I thought this the Lord brought a passage of scripture to my remembrance: "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:34-45).

I have read these scriptures multiple times, but after reading them again and seeing the application of them in someone’s life, such as Mother Teresa, they came alive to me. Within myself I often try to contrive a love for people that I cannot create on my own. I try and will myself to see them the way the Lord sees them instead of seeing them as Jesus. Mother Teresa was simply saying that she bypasses the physical person and meets the need of the Father.

This belief sets me free, but also challenges me. It sets me free, because it means I can do everything not to please a person, but to please God. It means that when I see people in need I can meet the need, not because it is the right thing to do, but because I want to do it as if it were Jesus. It is also a challenge, because it leaves no room for excuses not to reach out to people. We must realize that we cannot always wait on an audible word of the Lord, but we must have such a heart to do everything we do for Jesus. Wherever you are, in school or at work, view people not as people, but as Jesus. Constantly encourage yourself in the Lord and remember, “Whatever your work is, do it gladly. Do it as you would do it unto the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23).

-Lexie