Encountering the Holy Presence of God

In the ancient Near East, there was a very strict code of hospitality. You were bound to provide food and shelter to anyone who showed up at your doorstep. Part of this was a matter of mutual survival—a kind of social covenant.

For ancient Jews and Christians, there was even more at stake. They held a deep-seated belief that showing hospitality to the immigrant, the traveler, the foreigner, or the stranger was a way of encountering the holy presence of God. They believed that God could very well meet you through the visit of a stranger.

Jesus actually takes this a step further. He made it clear that whatever we do to someone in need—whether good or bad—we’ve done it to him. When you meet someone who is hungry or thirsty, sick, or in prison, he says: I’m there. I am in that person. How you treat them is how you treat me.

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome: Let love be genuine… Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

As you go through your day today, look into the eyes of those around you. May you expect to meet Jesus.

Let us pray: We thank you for your love for us, O God. We thank you for coming to us when we least expect it. I pray that by your grace we would serve as instruments of your mercy, love, and peace. In Christ’s name. Amen.