Welcoming others with a true heart of love.

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

Turret is a tiny former mining town approximately twelve miles northeast of Salida, Colorado. While it has a rich history, all that is left of this sunburned ghost town are several re-modeled cabins and some small lots for sale. A few historic buildings remain, including the one with this bell anchored and framed by logs. Long ago, bells were used to call people to gather together—whether to announce something, call congregations to worship, call for help or signal the start of a school day. A bell summoned people in a welcoming way.

But a sign at the entrance in this town emanates a different message: “Roads and Buildings within the Townsite of Turret are PRIVATE!” Most every building has a “No Trespassing” sign. There are many signs posted in this community that indicate you are not wanted there.

As followers of Christ we are to ring out bells of welcome to all people so we might share God’s love—with ALL people who He puts in our path. But often, if those we reach out to actually come near, our actions do not ring out a welcome.  By our demeanor we put up a sign that says, “I am not comfortable with you because you do not think or act as I do.” Yet those are exactly the people Jesus reached out to and often places in our path—people in need of a Savior—and just as needy as we are. It may not be easy, but we have been blessed because someone may have reached out and done exactly that for us once.

“Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all.  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:14-16 New Living Translation

So ring your bell of welcome. Embrace those who need to experience what you have found in our Lord—love, forgiveness and eternal life!

Copyright Text and Picture Desiree Bustamante