"The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Lev 19:34
God's concern for the marginalized is legendary. He champions the weak and the helpless. He delights in exalting the forgotten. God calls upon his people to do the same. We are called to share his heart and adopt his eyes for the world. This is especially true in how we relate to foreigners. Throughout history, and even today, foreigners have been regarded with suspicion and disdain. But God's purpose in demonstrating love is always to do the opposite of what our self-interest dictates. He does this to show us what his kingdom is like. All of us are aliens to God's kingdom. None of us deserve to be there. If we were in charge of heaven, we would likely keep it all to ourselves. God has gone out of his way and done everything in his power to open up the gates to all who long for that place. He is on a relentless mission to find every lost son and daughter and bring them home. This is exactly how God wants us to view the migrants in our midst. We are to welcome them in as we would our own family. They are here for a reason. God wants them to know that wherever his people are in the world, the migrant can call that place home. Because ultimately, for the believer, this world is just a stop along the way. It's not the final destination. As God's chosen people we are on a special journey homeward and the more who want to join us the richer we will all be. Even more importantly, the more prepared we will be for heaven, where every nation, tribe, people and language will live together in love and harmony throughout eternity.
Heavenly Father, may your heart of compassion for those seeking to find home be found in us wherever you may send us.
God's concern for the marginalized is legendary. He champions the weak and the helpless. He delights in exalting the forgotten. God calls upon his people to do the same. We are called to share his heart and adopt his eyes for the world. This is especially true in how we relate to foreigners. Throughout history, and even today, foreigners have been regarded with suspicion and disdain. But God's purpose in demonstrating love is always to do the opposite of what our self-interest dictates. He does this to show us what his kingdom is like. All of us are aliens to God's kingdom. None of us deserve to be there. If we were in charge of heaven, we would likely keep it all to ourselves. God has gone out of his way and done everything in his power to open up the gates to all who long for that place. He is on a relentless mission to find every lost son and daughter and bring them home. This is exactly how God wants us to view the migrants in our midst. We are to welcome them in as we would our own family. They are here for a reason. God wants them to know that wherever his people are in the world, the migrant can call that place home. Because ultimately, for the believer, this world is just a stop along the way. It's not the final destination. As God's chosen people we are on a special journey homeward and the more who want to join us the richer we will all be. Even more importantly, the more prepared we will be for heaven, where every nation, tribe, people and language will live together in love and harmony throughout eternity.
Heavenly Father, may your heart of compassion for those seeking to find home be found in us wherever you may send us.