Last night, as I was leaving church, a car from out of state turned in to the office parking lot, then out again quickly. The boys and I decided to follow them to see if everything was all right. Eventually, he pulled over, and was very apologetic, but he was a bit lost. He gave me his name, I gave him mine, and we talked for a bit. He has had a pretty rough life. He was looking for a rest stop, and since the nearest one is about 45 minutes away, he asked where he could park his car for the night (he didn’t want anything else). I told him to park in the office parking lot near the church, which is across the street from an all-night gas station (so he could use a restroom if needed), to which he finally acquiesced. He got emotional, told me some pretty heavy things, and seemed, overall, grateful for the talk. I brought him breakfast this morning, invited him to Celebrate Recovery tonight (a great place for a meal and to find people to talk with), and he went on his way.
Why did I do that? Why do I continue to do it? The author of Hebrews says “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (13:1-2). I am not trying to boast and say “look how good I am.” I don’t want your praise. But hospitality is something believers should show, and I pray daily for opportunities for Christ. I just have to open my eyes to what is presented. Our role as Christians is to spread the Gospel. We do so by meeting people where they are at so that we could bring them to the places we are at. Are you seeking to entertain angels, even if you’re unaware? Don’t have much? Use what you have, and be the hands and feet of Christ as you share Him with everyone you know.
Matthew 25:31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
1 Peter 4:1-11
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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