How can we personally ensure we are not neglecting "the stranger" today? The Call to Welcome the Stranger “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2) Who Is “the Stranger” in Our World? • Immigrants and refugees starting life in a new land • Travelers, students, or workers far from home • Neighbors who feel isolated by language, culture, or circumstance • Anyone on the margin—homeless, shut-ins, ex-convicts, foster children Heart Checks That Keep Us from Neglect • Remember God’s heart: “The LORD… defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:18) • Recall our own story: “You yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19) • Reject favoritism: “If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food… what good is it?” (James 2:15-16) • Embrace Christ’s standard: “I was a stranger and you invited Me in.” (Matthew 25:35) Practical Steps for Everyday Life • Greet newcomers wherever you meet them—work, church, neighborhood. • Keep a “hospitality margin” in your schedule and budget for shared meals or small acts of help. • Offer rides, childcare, language help, or job-search guidance to international neighbors. • Partner with local ministries that serve refugees, college exchange students, or the homeless. • Open your home for holidays; invite those who have no local family. • Carry practical supplies—gift cards, hygiene kits, snacks—to give when you meet people in need. • Mentor a newly arrived family: accompany them to stores, banks, and medical appointments. • Advocate for just treatment: write officials, volunteer in legal‐aid clinics, or support churches that host asylum seekers. Family and Church Applications • Model hospitality to children: involve them in cooking, greeting, and listening. • Designate part of the church budget for benevolence aimed at strangers. • Create multilingual welcome teams and signage. • Offer ESL classes, resume workshops, or citizenship tutoring on church property. • Celebrate cultural diversity in worship music and testimonies. • Form small-group “table fellowships” that intentionally mix long-time members with newcomers. Guardrails from Scripture • Leviticus 19:34 – “The foreigner residing with you must be to you as a native-born among you.” • 1 Peter 4:9 – “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.” • Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not lack.” • Isaiah 58:7 – “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house?” Blessings Tied to Obedience • God’s presence: welcoming the stranger is welcoming Christ Himself (Matthew 25:40). • Unexpected joy: “Some have entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2). • Community growth: unity in diversity showcases the gospel (Ephesians 2:19). • Personal provision: “Give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38). Let love drive tangible action so that no stranger near us goes unseen, unheard, or uncared for. |
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