Be Our Guest

This weekend I've been pondering on this verse from Hebrews 13:2


-Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware


In this day and age we are so cautious about our safety that we tend to overlook and not even risk talking to strangers.  Wouldn't it be sad though if we overlooked strangers and it was really an angel getting our offhanded manner?  My dad was always friendly to strangers and I remember this growing up!  He always was kind and talkative with strangers.  He can remember anyones name and things about them and their family!  Honestly in this busy frenzy we live in alot of times we're so rushed we forget to ask the cashier at the store how her days been.  That's so sad to me!  Another thing the Lord's revealed to me is that we should be hospitable to not just total strangers but people we know in our church but don't know well.  Maybe the person who doesn't appear to have very many friends in the church or a particular area that they naturally fit in.  The Bible says in Mark 9:41

- For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward

And in Matthew 25:40

-And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

But we constantly overlook people even in our own church body!  Even the ones we know need someone most!  This was on my heart for days and the other day I was speaking to one of my good friends and she was telling me about a young couple in our church in Charlotte. They actually got out of church before we moved away and she was telling me that the husband is back in church now but not his wife.  My heart broke!  Do you know how many times the Lord nudged my heart to embrace this young woman and befriend her?  But I always had an excuse.  Now she's out of church and I don't know that I'll ever have another chance!  I am sad to say there have been times that I knew I should invite some couple over or offer to have a missionary to dinner.  There are always excuses not to though. Our house is too small, I don't have time to clean,  we can't afford to cook a big meal for them!  The Lord said a cup of cold water!  How about coffee and dessert?  I know that lately I've been more like Cogsworth the grumpy one about a guest instead of Lumiere who sang and danced in excitement about one!  I so desire to have a servants heart in this area!  Don't you?