Welcoming

Welcoming (by David Peterson of The Rock of Jesus Church)

Jesus continues to provide His disciples with instructions on how to deal with the outside world. In Matthew 10:40-42 Jesus tells them: “The one who receives you receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Similar words are found in Mark 9:41 where Jesus relates that all acts of kindness that are done unto His followers are acts done upon Himself. Simply, as they are treated, He is treated. As His ambassadors are welcomed, He is welcomed.

Pastor Danny Franks, from The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, writes a Christian blog called “Connective Tissue”. Franks once wrote: “Because God has welcomed you, it falls to you to welcome others. Not only that, but in the way God has welcomed you, he now calls you to welcome them.” The ministry of Jesus is about warm, compassionate love. Jesus welcomes us with open arms and He expects us to do the same.

Remember, the stark words from Matthew 25:40 where Jesus reminds us “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me”. We are to offer welcome to all others and hope we will be welcomed in the name of Christ.

Daniel Charles Damon wrote the hymn “Welcome, Jesus, You Are Welcome” and his first stanza is;

Welcome, Jesus, you are welcome

in this world made hard by fear;

loving reach us, living teach us,

Jesus, you are welcome here.

Damon rolls out the welcome mat for Christ to engage us through reaching us and teaching us. By His example we are compelled to do the same.

Let us pray: Christ Jesus, engage us to welcome others into our faith walk without prejudice or hesitation. Empower us to see others as if we see you. Enlist us to be your ambassadors of love. Amen.