God's Glory Church

“You are no longer strangers and strangers, but fellow citizens of the saints, and at home for God.” — Ephesians 2:19

In the book All Sad is Untrue, Daniel Nyeri describes his harrowing escape with his mother and sister from persecution through a refugee camp to safety in the United States. The elderly couple agreed to take them under their care, although they did not know them. Years have passed, but Daniel still can’t come to his senses. He writes: “Can you believe it? They did it completely blindly. They never even saw us. If we turned out to be villains, they would have to pay for it. I can’t even imagine a more courageous, kind and desperate act.”

However, God wants us to show the same level of concern for others. He commanded Israel to be kind to foreigners. “You will love him as yourself, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:34). The Apostle Paul reminds the Gentiles who believe in Christ, that is, you and me, that once we “were without Christ… strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). Therefore, He commands all of us, former foreigners, Jews and Gentiles: “Do not forget to love the newcomers” (Heb. 13:2).

Now living with her own family, Daniel praises Jim and Jean Dosan, “who were true Christians in allowing a refugee family to live with them until they could find their own home.”

God welcomes strangers and encourages us to do the same.

Who is the outsider in your world? How do you invite these people into your space?

Lord Jesus, show me a stranger whom You want me to show love to.

Author: Mike Whittmer