God's Glory Church

“As a native among you, so will be for you a sojourner who lives with you.” — Leviticus 19:34

In a new country, everything was completely different: a new language, schools, customs, traffic, weather. They didn’t know if they would ever be able to adjust to it. Members of the church, which is located nearby, decided to help the family in setting up a new life in a new place. Patti took the couple to a local grocery store to show them what was available and how to shop for groceries. During visits to the supermarket, the family was happy to see pomegranates on the counter – fruits from their homeland. They bought a pomegranate for each of their children and another for Patti as a thank you for her help. These fruits and new friends brought them great comfort in a new, unfamiliar country.

God, through Moses, provided a list of laws for His people, among which was the commandment to treat a foreigner among the people as a “native” (Lev. 19:34). God also commanded to “love him as yourself.” The Lord Jesus called this commandment the second great commandment after the commandment to love God (Mt. 22:39). Even God “protects those who come” (Ps. 145:9).

Helping new friends to adapt to life in our country, let’s remember that we are also “sojourners” on earth (Heb. 11:13). So, let’s wait for the appearance of a new heavenly abode.

Who does God want you to care about? What gift has He given you to show His love to others?

Compassionate God, I do not fully understand what it means to be a stranger in the world. Help me support those who are in a foreign land.

By Ann Sitas