Strangers in a Foreign Land

Hebrews 13:1-3

 

Moses escaped Pharaoh and fled to Midian. While in exile he married and started his family. He named his first born Gershom (meaning “foreigner”), for Moses said, “I am a stranger in a foreign land.” Have you ever felt that way?

 

The Bible is filled with stories about people who felt like a stranger. God called Abram to go to a country he had never set foot in. The Israelites were nomads, a nation without land. After being enslaved in Egypt, they were later taken into exile. Even in Jesus’ day, the Jews were subjected to Roman rule.

 

The writer of Hebrews tells us to show hospitality to strangers. No doubt, part of the reason for that is that it is way of living out our faith; of loving others. However, I believe there is a deeper meaning.

 

As previously mentioned, the Israelites were aliens in a foreign land. Like the Israelites, we are aliens too. We are living temporarily on this planet. Paul put it like this in his letter to the Philippians, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…”

 

Do you cross paths with people who may feel like a stranger? Are there visitors to your church who need a warm greeting? Do you know a single person who would enjoy a home cooked meal? Is there a coworker who could use an encouraging word? Are there opportunities to serve the homeless or those in prison? Hospitality simply means making others feel at home wherever you are.

 

However, Jesus expanded this definition of hospitality. “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… Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

 

From the very beginning, God’s people have been strangers in a foreign land. We are

not home yet either, and won’t be until we get to Heaven. But until that day, show hospitality to others, not only because the Bible instructs us to, but also because we are visitors on this earth, and it is a way of showing our love for Jesus.