What does it mean to feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked? I think we can all agree on what it means literally but how then is it worked out? I understand God to work in various and mysterious ways and He asks each of us individually to feed, visit and/or clothe the least of these.
As 1 Corinthians 3:5b says, as the Lord has assigned to each his task, each of us individually works the task and since we are all unique than how we are to do that will be unique to each of us. Throughout my service though I have to remember that it is “only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:7b) God will fulfill the harvest/complete the task, with or without me and no matter how imperfectly I work my role. What a blessing to be counted as a part of His plan and purpose.
Sometimes I wish I could see where this “work” was leading, how the finished product will look, but I’m so thankful the final word is with God and His mercy and grace towards each of us. I can not “save” a person but through my words or actions I can be a part of something bigger than I could ever imagine.
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—1 Corinthians 2:9