Invite
Today’s Scripture Selection: Matthew 25:35-36
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
The world is an odd mix of beauty and ugliness; comfort and need; health and disease; peace and war; love and hate.
We find that we need to stay on our guard much of the time. There are plenty of people who would do us harm if given half a chance. There are many situations in which must be aware and careful.
This is why Scripture talks about being wise and serpents and innocent as doves at the same time.
So it is no surprise that when you think about inviting strangers into your space – well, it may give you pause – at the very least.
The daily news reports remind us of just how dangerous our world can be.
But, too often I see people keeping up their guard a little too much.
Too often, I find myself keeping up my guard a little too much.
As the people of God; Christ-followers we need to watch that.
We need to be an inviting, welcoming people. We need to put our snap judgments on hold.
We need to open our doors and our minds and our hearts.
Does it mean we say “anything goes” and never set healthy boundaries? No.
But it does mean that we allow others to be invited in where they can be received with a welcoming attitude.
In short, it means to love as we have been loved – warts and all.
Prayer: Lord, open my heart to invite others to experience your grace. AMEN.
