There’s a line from Jesus that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s tucked into Matthew 10:42, and it goes like this: “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but I find that wildly comforting. Jesus isn’t asking us to scale mountains, solve world hunger, or win a Nobel Peace Prize before lunch. He’s saying faith is as simple as handing someone a glass of water today…literally or figuratively.
Over my years in ministry, I’ve seen people grow in their faith in all kinds of ways. But here’s the kicker: it’s rarely because of some lightning-bolt, life-altering moment. Nope. It’s usually the small stuff. The daily, unglamorous, often unnoticed acts of kindness. The spiritual equivalent of showing up with a cup of cold water when someone’s parched.
But let’s be honest—most of us are waiting for the big moment. The dramatic transformation. The spiritual fireworks. Meanwhile, we’re walking past a hundred tiny opportunities to love, serve, and grow. Why? Because they look too ordinary.
Case in point: I saw a t-shirt the other day that had a dog snoozing in a hammock with a rake lying on the ground. The caption? “Just do it…tomorrow.” I laughed… and then I winced…because it was in my closet. But isn’t that our spiritual life sometimes?
But Jesus didn’t call us to change the world in a day. He said, “Start with a cup of water.” That’s it. No seminary degree required. No halo necessary. Just a willingness to notice someone’s need and respond with love. And here’s the wild part: when we do that—when we embrace the small, the simple, the seemingly insignificant—God does something incredible with it. Lives change. Hearts soften. Hope grows.
So maybe today’s not about doing something epic. Maybe it’s just about being present. Being kind. Being the person who shows up with a cup of cold water and a smile. Because according to Jesus, that’s more than enough.