”Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Matthew 10:40
Have you ever been invited to someone’s home or an event, and yet not felt welcomed? Some people have the natural ability to make you feel welcomed (invited or not) and others truly have the spiritual gift of hospitality. While hospitality is not my greatest gift, God has been teaching me over the past year what that looks like. Moving into a brand-new neighborhood made it challenging to go out of my comfort zone and introduce myself to the neighbors. It was even harder to invite them over without worrying about how clean the house was, what to serve, and so forth.
God sent His son as the ultimate welcoming party to invite us into His family, even when we didn’t deserve it. He invites us to an eternal banquet with Him and He asks us to do the same with those we meet. Whether it’s a stranger on the corner, an elderly person needing assistance, a single mom who is struggling financially, or that neighbor who doesn’t know Jesus yet, we should invite them in.
Matthew 10 goes on to say, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:42). Offer that cup of cold water as often as you can, or better yet – that cup of Living Water. That may be the only invitation they ever receive.
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that you adopted me into your family, and that you used people who love you to invite me into that relationship. Help me to keep my eyes open to opportunities to invite others to know you and live with you eternally. Amen.
TAKE ACTION
Take a step out of your comfort zone today and introduce yourself to a stranger or neighbor. Invite them to hear the greatest love story ever told.
Would you consider a year-end donation? You'll be equipping our team of over 1000 online missionaries to lead thousands closer to Jesus, one conversation at a time.