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Company's
Coming' - Did We Invite Them? The Gift of Hospitality Centuries later the writer of Hebrews said about this incident: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) When we show hospitality to anyone, we show it to God. Leo Tolstoy told the story of Conrad, a godly shoemaker. One night Conrad dreamt that the next day, Jesus was coming to his humble shop. He got up early the next morning and went to the woods to gather green boughs to decorate his shop. He waited all morning and the only thing that happened was that an old man shuffled up asking to rest. Conrad saw that old man's shoes were worn through, so he brought the man in. "I'll give you a new pair of shoes," he said. Conrad put the sturdiest shoes in the shop on the old man before sending him on his way. The shoemaker waited all through the afternoon and the only event was that an old woman came by carrying a heavy load of firewood. She was weary. Out of compassion, Conrad brought her in and gave her some of the food that he had prepared for the Christ child. She ate heartily as she was very hungry and then fully refreshed, she went on her way. Then as night began to fall, a lost child crying bitterly came into his shop. Conrad was somewhat annoyed that he had to leave his shop in order to take the child home, yet he still did it. When he returned he was convinced that he had missed the Lord. Sadly he relived the moments of Jesus' visit as he had imagined them. He would have kissed the hands where the nails had been and washed the feet where the spikes had entered. He would have sat with the Lord and broken bread with him. It would have been so good. And so, Conrad cried: "Why is it, Lord that your feet delay? Have you forgotten that this was the day?" Then, in the soft silence... Conrad heard the voice of the Lord: "Lift up your heart for I kept my word. Three times I came to your friendly door. Three times my shadow was on your floor. I was the beggar with bruised feet. I was the woman you gave to eat. I was the child on the homeless street." "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Jesus himself told us in Matthew 25: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Our world is anxious to be accepted and loved. People are hurting. People are lonely. People are searching for meaning and acceptance. Will we be the ones who offer it to them in the Name of Jesus? Or will they have to look elsewhere? There is an Andrew Lloyd Weber line from "Les Miserables" - "Take my hand and lead me to salvation...Take my love - for love is everlasting...and remember the truth that once was spoken...to love another person is to see the face of God." Will you offer your hand? Can you see the face of God in another person? Will you let them see God's face in yours? Who is welcome? Are only those who look like us, or dress like us, or live like us welcome? Or is our welcome broader? Are we willing to welcome all members of society, even those people whose behavior might be offensive to us, so that they too can taste and see that the Lord is good? Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery: "I do not condemn you." Are we willing to be just as non-judgmental? What if a dancer from Déjà vu came to worship, would we welcome her? What about ex-prisoners - would they be welcome? What about those on welfare? What about the poor and the handicapped? What about gang members? How far does our welcome go? Jesus continually hung around with society's outcasts - the tax collectors and sinners. He accepted them and loved them. Does his church today do the same? Are we willing to do whatever is necessary to welcome all in the Name of Jesus? Can we be bold enough to do whatever it takes to impact our culture, society, and neighborhood, with the life-changing message of Jesus? It probably means we would have to do some changing. Are we willing to change for the sake of others? Tim Wright, pastor at Community Church of Joy in Phoenix, writes in "The Prodigal Hugging Church": "The more we look like culture and the less we look like a church, the more effective we'll be in reaching culture." Are we willing to change so that others feel more welcome? Are we willing to change to be more effective in reaching our culture? Are we willing to let kindness and compassion be our guide? There is power in kindness continually shown. Leonard Sweet in "Aqua Church" writes A liquid, no matter how yielding and transient it appears, can erode stone. Soft water wins out over hard rock every time. When people call you a 'softie' or a 'soft touch,' remember the power of water's soft touch to carve the Grand Canyon...Over time, there is nothing stronger than water...No matter how hardened and stony the human heart, softness defeats hardness...over time every time; gentleness beats rigidness...over time every time. The waters of abounding grace are even more powerful than death." Softness defeats hardness over time every time. Gentleness beats rigidness over time every time. We can bring softness and gentleness to those with hardened hearts and win them over for Jesus. Again Tim Wright writes: "Prodigal hugging churches use warmth rather than force, affirmation rather than condemnation, when trying to reach culture. They follow Jesus' example and lead with kindness." Warmth, affirmation, kindness - can we lead with those? How warm, affirming and kind are we? How can we improve? What can each of us do to be more warm, affirming and kind to others, especially to others who are not like us? A mother writes that her little boy was sitting in a high chair when suddenly Erik squealed with glee as if to say "Hi there." He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man. We were the only family with children in the restaurant. Erik saw a man in pants that were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. "Hi there, baby. Hi there, big boy. I see ya buster." The man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, "What do we do?" Erik continued to laugh. Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey look, he knows peek-a-boo." Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence - all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments. We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. The old man sat poised between the door and me. "Lord, just let me get out of here before he speaks to me or Erik." I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's pick me up position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's arms. Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You take care of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will", from a throat that contained a stone. I received my baby back, and the man said, "God bless you ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than muttered thanks. I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child, who saw no sin, who made no judgment, a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. Our task is outlined for us in Hebrew 13:1: "Let mutual love continue." Amen. |
