Tribute

Matthew 25:40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

For the last six years of my life I was privileged to know and work along side a man named Rev. Robert Earl Ange who served as Minister to Senior Saints at Bethel. He went home to be with Jesus Monday a week ago. I want to talk a little bit in this blog post about what I learned from Him.

The verse above catches the essence of Rev. Ange's life. He loved to minister to "the least of these". That is where his heart was. He spilled his life out ministering to people that would never be able to do anything for him. He was drawn to the helpless, the hopeless and wanted to be used of the Lord to bring a ray of sunshine into the life of people who would otherwise live a very gloomy existence on this earth. His heart broke for people who had become home bound, and for those whose health had deteriorated to the point that they were confined to nursing homes. I was half his age, I was his pastor, and yet he taught me. I am challenged by the life that Rev. Robert Earl Ange lived to never forget those who would fall into the category of "the least of these".

I have used what I like to call "my sanctified imagination" to imagine the interaction that Rev. Ange has had with Jesus since Monday a week ago. I wonder if Jesus has already said to Rev. Robert Earl Ange, "Thanks for what you did for me!" I suspect that Rev. Ange would respond with something like, "What did I do for you Jesus? I never felt like I did enough." And Jesus perhaps responded, "When you ministered to all those people who were the least of my brethren, you did it to me. Well done my good and faithful servant."

Thank you Rev. Robert Earl Ange for loving and living for Jesus. I am more like HIM because I knew you.