I’ve written before about a raucous nightclub that opened across the street from my family’s home in Uganda—causing us to move out before we had a new place to live. The unexpected and challenging experience—moving from the stable house and community we had lived in for seven consecutive years—led to a state of ongoing transition. We ultimately ended up settling in a community where we knew no one, and had to start over from scratch.
As we grieved the loss of our former home and neighborhood and attempted to adjust to a new setting, I was encouraged by those who welcomed us and pained by those who didn’t.
Exodus 23:9 is deeply relevant to this situation. In this passage, the Israelites are told not to treat outsiders badly. To the contrary, they were to remember that they too had once been outsiders in Egypt. It was their divine calling and opportunity to display empathy for newcomers and welcome them into their midst.
It’s easy to forget what it’s like to be new in a community. Unless we’re intentional in considering how newcomers feel, we can miss opportunities to live out the gospel before those who need friendship and fellowship.
One commentator of Exodus 23:9, discussing the isolation a newcomer often feels, wrote, “[You] know by experience what a distressed, friendless condition that of a stranger is. The disposition, dejection, and distress of his heart, make him an object of pity, not of malice or injustice. [You] know his heart is easily depressed, and very unable to bear [rejection].”
As Romans 12:13 declares, may we “always be eager to practice hospitality,” welcoming new acquaintances and helping them in meaningful ways.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Philippians 3:1-21
More:
According to 3 John 1:5-6, who are you being faithful to when you’re hospitable to “traveling teachers” passing through town?
Next:
What can prevent you from reaching out to newcomers? How does warm hospitality reflect God’s loving heart?
Gary Shultz on December 4, 2016 at 6:44 am
Hi Roxanne: I can understand your dislike of moving. I also understand that God knew exactly what He was doing. I’m sure if by this time you have not seen reasons you will, as you know. If I may pull your strand into some other areas, I see this happen in schools and churches and I’m going to camp a little on work, the job. I see it over and over again folks who have established themselves in their trade or work environment seem to often lack patience with new workers. We forget it took us some time to become an accomplished professional. The work place also calls for performance and a new worker is viewed as a determent to the work place. In each one of these situations is an opportunity for grace, remembering the quality of that gift we received from God on a regular basis. Help and hospitality become great avenues for grace, opening the door to share it’s source. Thanks Roxanne.
hsnpoor on December 4, 2016 at 7:31 am
I am in the midst of sorting, purging and packing up to move for the 4th time in 5-yrs, so this devotion today really hit home on a couple of fronts. Before I became a nomad, I had lived in the same place for 16-yrs and loved to entertain in my home, something I still want to do, but dont always have the space or means to do over the last 5-yrs. Gary made a great point that hospitality doesn’t stop at the front door of our homes and its a point well taken. But, we should also be mindful that there are some to whom we do not want to extend a welcome, which I know sounds harsh, but is actually quite Biblical; ref. 2 John 1:10-11. False teaching & teachers should be rebuked, not welcomed, and all the more as The Day of The Lord approaches.
elegantstarr1 on December 4, 2016 at 10:41 am
Good morning. Great devotional Roxanne…I was really touched by today’s message and I had to comment. Just last night my cousin shared pictures and the story about a program he attended, in his city, which included a visit with some beautiful Ugandan orphans. He couldn’t stop talking about these wonderful children…how they sang, danced and even prayed for people in the audience. After seeing the pictures of these lovely children and hearing their stories, I was in awe of the joy in the faces of these children. My cousin explained that they were orphaned at young ages, yet they still spread joy, love and prayers with their bright smiles and happy faces. I immediately wanted to meet these children and dive into the words of Romans 12:13, may we always be eager to practice hospitality, welcoming new acquaintances and helping them in meaningful ways.