The idea of immigrants competing with locals for jobs is a political hot potato in many countries. Some citizens resent the newcomers because they perceive them as stealing jobs, competing for scarce services, and causing overcrowding. With unfamiliar customs and languages, the immigrants are sometimes accused of disturbing and even threatening the social fabric of the native born. So how should believers in Jesus respond to the aliens living in their midst?
Fresh out of Egypt, God commanded His people to be kind to foreigners. He told them, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them” (Leviticus 19:33 NIV), because, ”You were once foreigners living in Egypt” (Leviticus 19:34). They were to remember how they too were mistreated as aliens (Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 10:19).
But that’s not all. God expects us to be proactive—to “treat [the foreigners] like native-born, and love them as you love yourself” (Leviticus 19:34). We’re to treat foreigners as locals, not outsiders. As Jesus said, “I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home” (Matthew 25:35). That’s grace!
God gives us a compelling motivation to reach out in this way. “I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34). Our God “is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation” (Psalm 145:9). God “shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19).
As Jesus’ followers, we’re called to “imitate God . . . [as] his dear children” and to “live a life filled with love” (Ephesians 5:1-2). He provides what we need to love others well!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 11:1-30
More:
Read Deuteronomy 10:17-19, 24:14-15, and Malachi 3:5 to see God’s heart for the foreigners living among His people.
Next:
What is one kind act you can do for a “foreigner” living in your midst this week? How does love for those who are different from us reflect the heart of God?
don777 on July 6, 2017 at 5:40 am
What a hot topic. We are to love. love comes in many ways. Prayer & reaching out in love. Far as Islam, the Koran says to kill the infidels (Christians). I am sorry but, why would you raise a rattle snake as a pet. It will bite you. There are verses in the Bible that says eliminate all the idol worshipers, I think that God places on our heart how to live. I sorry but I don’t see God wanting to us to embrace a suicide bomber. To kill Christians is in there bible. Satan has them blinded. They want to love us to death. I love My family, & our Country more. Like I said earlier there are lots of way to reach out. Matthew 10:16 (NLT) 16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
don777 on July 6, 2017 at 6:52 am
I thought we were not supposed to get political. So isn’t this devotion that?
Brands Monica on July 6, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Thanks for your honesty, don77, tough topic. You might find Tim’s comment below very helpful, as I did. A verse from Romans comes to mind: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (12:21). If someone truly is a danger to us, it makes sense to have some wise boundaries (for example, if I didn’t know and trust someone well, I would probably meet them in group or public settings rather than alone), yet at the end of the day, I think our faith compels us to have a heart that seeks to show as many as possible God’s love, no matter how distant they may be from it, and even if it comes with real risks (Paul’s life journey with all of its life-threatening situations comes to mind as an example of this). As believers, our primary calling is to reflect to the world Christ’s love–which was willing to die for His enemies. As Paul reminded believers so often, we have to be careful never to forget that all of us are naturally enemies of God and each other; none of us is better than someone in another religion who does not yet know Jesus’ love. Only being willing to risk showing others love even when we are afraid (Perfect love drives out fear…) can help others show that His love is greater than human divisions.
Thanks for a convicting and timely message, KT! Political policies may be debatable, but as believers determining public policies is not necessarily our calling – but to love others as ourselves and long for their salvation is, and something I definitely need encouragement to be more faithful in.
Gary Shultz on July 6, 2017 at 5:49 am
Hi KT: The heart of the message is good, I guess I just have some hangups. Foreigners who come through the process are much different than those come as illegals, that’s part of the mix in our country. They are not just competing, they have done so outside the law. Does that mean we should show unkindness to those not of our country? Well we enter a sticky situation because not long after the words from Leviticus was written, Israel slaughtered many foreign peoples. So, there would seem to be a line of national security. Those bent on harm or infiltration to change society were eliminated. Before our hearts go wondering off to fling the doors open to everyone, we need to settle how that balance works. I do agree those who come in peace and not harm we should be welcoming. Of course many times we know other political results may be desired other than just welcoming. Sorry for the push back, but you said, it’s a hot potato. Thanks KT
tim gustafson on July 6, 2017 at 7:55 am
Hi Gary. Not sure if KT can weigh in today/tonight. One key observation here: I understand your point about how Israel slaughtered entire people groups when they moved into the Promised Land, but that was by express directive from God. So I don’t think that applies now. God is certainly not mandating invasion and genocide today. That was a particular time and a particular punishment for Canaanites who were doing terrible things, including sacrificing their own children. Would you agree?
I do find KT’s devotional timely precisely because of all the controversy. We have many immigrants in our town now, and they are from distinctively different people groups. (Mostly Bosnian, Syrian, Bhutanese and Burmese, Sudanese, Rwandan.) Sure, they might take a job I want my son to have. But the biblical principle remains (although that too, was to Israel): welcome the foreigner. Another way to look at it is, the mission field has come to where I live. To marginalize all such people simply because terrorism exists is not what Jesus would have done.
This does NOT mean that a country is not permitted to make wise decisions about who it lets in. That’s another debate entirely, and probably one that would not be helpful to have in this space.
But beyond that (and this one gets ME every time), what are we to make of Christ’s very clear command to “love your enemies; do good to them that persecute you.” Yep, in all honesty I don’t like that. But Jesus said it, and He meant it. One thing that helps me to prayerfully put this into practice is to realize that Jesus wasn’t speaking to nations. In other words, it is wise for a nation to protect itself. But for me as an individual Christ-follower, the command is clear. I am to love my enemies. Tough one! And I appreciate the honest comments here.
Brands Monica on July 6, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Thanks, Tim, very helpful comment.
gymd on July 6, 2017 at 12:44 pm
My first time posting on this forum… I feel compelled to way in with Gary and Don. I love ODJ and get so much out of these devotionals. I also love my country and served in a capacity of counter terrorism and law enforcement for over 30 years. In retirement doing contract work and consulting, I still have my ear to the ground concerning these issues. The Lord does not require us to be “Pollyanna” about protecting our country and being good stewards of its resources. ISIS/Daesh have used the immigration process against us and many other western entities. Treating any/all fellow people with love and respect is a foundation of our faith, but be realistic. The references to Egypt etc. are not comparing apples to apples and what the motivations were in that day and time. K.T., I have been to your country Singapore in my government capacity and doing private security (Red Cell) tests on a American Multi-National entity. Your country has cameras EVERYWHERE, undercover officers driving cabs and police on every corner. It was the most safe place to be I have ever been! Great national pride and moral, however this Utopia has its own issues and is not opening its doors to a flood of undocumented foreigners…I am off put by a message like this from a perspective and situation that is so not relevant to the USA. I will say this, but for the grace of God, our country has been spared so many horrible attacks…we have to be blessed/lucky every dy, they only need to be lucky one day…The Lord is holding back the tide still…
K. T. Sim on July 6, 2017 at 11:06 pm
Hi gymd. I would respectfully disagree with your perceived perspective about the security of Singapore. But I do appreciate you reading my article and sharing your impressions.
minkjh on July 6, 2017 at 12:50 pm
You’ve given us a taste of sound theology here, K. T. I’m going to diverge from the obvious response and note that I have more than once encountered folks who are captivated by the persona of Christ but want nothing to do with the God of the Old Covenant. The preference is understandable when they hear of a Jesus who is nothing but meek, mild, and loving compared to a God who is mysterious, threatening, and destructive. You have given us a truly balanced perspective by revealing other attributes of God that are found in scripture. It’s important that we recognize God for all that He is, just as He recognizes us for all that we are.
K. T. Sim on July 6, 2017 at 1:38 pm
Thanks everyone for weighing in on a very difficult and emotive subject matter. Mention has been made of the mandate for the Israelites to kill everyone living in the land of Canaan.
God gave specific instructions to his people how to deal with 2 groups of “enemies”.
– peoples living outside of Canaan (Deuteronomy 20:10-15)
– peoples living inside of Canaan (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).
To take possession of the land, for the Canaanites living inside Canaan itself, there must be a “take no prisoners” policy. God told the Israelites, “Do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them.” (Deuteronomy 20:16-17). The Israelites had to destroy anything that threaten or imperil the spiritual life of God’s people. “Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God. (v.18)
The Canaanites are hērem = a people dedicated to the Lord for total destruction
(Deuteronomy 7:1-5, Deuteronomy 20:16-18). The Canaanites were a very wicked people who practiced the worst forms of immorality and idolatry, including witchcraft and sorcery and even child sacrifices (Deuteronomy 12:31)
This is what God told the Israelites to do: 9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 18:9-13)
God patiently waited while His people were slaves in Egypt. God told Abraham that his descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years — until the wickedness of the Amorites reached its maximum, until they reach a point of no redemption (Genesis 15:16). God gave the Canaanites 470 years to repent. And their wickedness had reached tipping point.
This mandate to kill everyone in the land of Canaan was an act of God’s judging evil people who refused to repent, who deserved to be punished. It was no different than the flood during Noah’s time (Genesis 6-7), and it was no different than the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire (Genesis 19).
God often times uses one nation to punish another. God is using the Jews to punish the Canaanites. In the same way, God will use the Assyrians and the Babylonians to punish his own people 700 hundred years later.
This mandate was God’s judgment on the Canaanites. This mandate is for
– a specific time and purpose (the possession of the Promised Land) and
– limited to the land of Canaan (where God’s holy presence was to dwell)
There is no such mandate for Christians today. Instead, Christians have a mandate to love.
This is no easy thing to do. But this is where we must begin.
don777 on July 6, 2017 at 10:19 pm
I’m sorry but I respectfully disagree. God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow. He does not change. He is not a shifting shadow. Isis is as bad as those people. I understand love, Love is not always just a hug. I love my kids When they were younger (little) and they did something wrong I would spake them out of love. There is a lot of things that don’t look like love. If we are over there fighting Isis wouldn’t that be love for others? Because if you let them take over there will be no more Christian if they had there way.
JodieO on July 8, 2017 at 7:32 am
Thank you for providing a BIBLICAL and CONTEXTUAL basis for responding to the comments.
Christians I implore you to read & study the word of God, so that you may speak from truth and not from your emotions.
The word of God is clear – “love your enemies” ouch! Yes, Jesus thank you for the resurrection power the inside of me to be your true disciple! Jesus’ does not contradict the Old Testament in fact Jesus reinforces it.
Study to show yourselves approved. Time is short we don’t have time to go over the basics. The devotional is just a reminder of what we have read and studied.
God bless you all.
tim gustafson on July 6, 2017 at 1:58 pm
There are many things I appreciate about this forum, not the least of which is the sense of community I see here every day. I learn a lot from fellow believers, most of whom I won’t meet this side of heaven. But there’s another thing I truly appreciate today, and that is, despite the fact that people are bringing strongly held viewpoints that differ from each other … no one is yelling or resorting to ad hominem attacks. How absolutely refreshing!
Tom Felten on July 6, 2017 at 3:46 pm
So true, Tim. And it’s stretching and helpful to carefully consider another’s view. As I’m looking over these comments, it reminds of looking at a diamond and viewing its various facets. So each of us will reflect what’s been our focus and experience.
Gary Shultz on July 6, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Hi Tim: I am able to make a mid-day appearance today. Tim I do agree with you say, and probably the most profound thing to me, is the making of wise decisions when it comes to this subject. Almost all of this is beyond our hands or capabilities to unravel the twisted mess this has become. I; however, must agree, Christ set a new standard in loving our neighbors or enemies for that matter. We are called on to do what we can do, and that is show the love of Christ, even in pinching situations. Good comments and thoughts, and thank you for taking the time to really pull the subject out a little further. Thanks Tim