Loving the Stranger

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading, titled Loving the Stranger, was written by Amy Boucher-Pye. When I moved to a new country, one of my first experiences left me feeling unwelcome. After finding a seat in the little church where my husband was preaching that day, a gruff older gentleman startled me when he said, Move along down. His wife apologized as she explained that I was sitting in the pew they always occupied. Years later, I learned that congregations used to rent out pews, which raised money for the church and also ensured no one could take another person's seat.

Apparently, some of that mentality carried on through the decades. Later, I reflected on how God instructed the Israelites to welcome foreigners in contrast to cultural practices such as I encountered. In setting out the laws that would allow His people to flourish, He reminded them to welcome foreigners because they themselves were once foreigners. Not only were they to treat strangers with kindness, but they were also to love them as themselves.

God had rescued them from oppression in Egypt, giving them a home in a land flowing with milk and honey. He expected His people to love others who also made their home there. As you encounter strangers in your midst, ask God to reveal any cultural practices that might keep you from sharing His love with them.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Leviticus 19, verses 33-37. When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native born.

Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hymn. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt. Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them.

I am the Lord. Let's pray. Father God, help us to welcome those among us who we would consider foreigners, whether they come from afar or just from another part of our country. Help us to be sensitive to their needs and struggles as they try to find their place in their new community and to do all we can to make them feel at home. Thank you for loving us with open arms and may we do the same for others. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.