by Rev Steve Nickodemus

You Never Know Who You Will Meet!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:2

When I saw this sign at a motel in which we stayed, I had to look up the word “hospitality.”  It is defined as “the practice of entertaining or hosting strangers.”  From that same root word, English also derives “hospital” and “hospice,” the practice of caring for strangers, especially in some very needy times.

How much room is there for hospitality in your life?  Is there room in your life, in your daily schedule, for caring for strangers? Is there room for caring for people that you neither know nor for whom you have an obligation to care for, or are you like the old farmer who prayed at his meal, “Thank you for this food, for me and my wife, for my son and his wife, us four and no more.”?  Is there no room for loving those who are not only strange to you, but just flat out strange?

I want to give you three reasons for loving strangers. One, God’s Word tells you to do it. Two, meeting strangers is one of the best ways to meet new friends and witness to others.  Three, showing hospitality is where you will meet Jesus.  That’s right, Jesus said several times that when we love others, even in small ways, we are doing it for Him.  That is where you meet Jesus, in loving those who may be strange to you in many ways.

Isn’t that what God did for you?  “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) While you were still far away from Him, yes, even His enemy, God loved you.  He loved you so much, He even sent His Son for you.

Practice hospitality? Thank you Lord, that You did, and now You are my friend!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado