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40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40-42 NIV Bible)
Visitors versus guests. yes, we've had this discussion before. The people who come unexpected are visitors and those are the ones who usually drive us to hide behind the sofa and turn off the lights in hopes that htey leave soon; while guests are those whom we invited to come, or whose visits are neverr shunned. The doors for guets are flung open. You and I have been in both camps; for some we are visitors and for others we are guests. The more important question is how to we welcome visitors or guests? How does your church welcome those who are not normally in your midst? Hospitality is very important, for through it we convey either love or indifference or we could make an impact that will bless a person beyond expectation. I've shared how a classmate invited me to eat when I had no money as my scholarship check was late; what I hadn't shared was another classmate who when visiting was preparing a meal and then rudely said, "Are you just going to watch me eat?" I got the hint and left.
Hospitality was important to Jesus for in this passage, He speaks about those who welcome His disciples would be welcoming Him, and those who welcomed Jesus would be welcoming the One Who sent Him. That is very powerful for it describes how serious and sacred, Jesus took those who welcomes His disciples and Him. They would be counted as being in the company of God. And as He continues, Jesus says those who welcome a prophet for being a prophet, will be reward with a prophet's reward, meaning that the faithfulness of those prophets who were called by God and served as God asked, would be welomced into the presence of Heaven; likewise those who welcome a reighteous person receive the same reward as that righteous person; again, entrance into God's rest and life eternal in God's presence. And those who share a cup of cold water to one of His disciples and followers, would also never lose that reward for having blessed those who believed in Him. Everything we do that blesses others, brings a blessing to us. While this return blessing may not come immediately, or even in this lifetime, but it belongs to us nonetheless. The economy of God's kingdom is one of generosity; those who are generous to others will be rewarded generously. Jesus is saying we should hold nothing back, and that which we share should be that which brings the fullness of life to others.
This economy of God's runs on the foundation of love, for it is those who love others, are blessed by having that kind of giving love in their hearts and their reward will be awesome. We should note that Jesus does not say that we help only those like us, or those whom we favor, but we help everyone who is in need. The thirsty were among those whom Jesus considered needy, for Jesus knew that no one should be thisty. In His declaration on the judgment of the nations in Matthew 25 also declared our need to help the hungry, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. No where does Jesus say help only those who believe and act like you. The economy of God's kingdom also runs on the notion that all people matter and count to God. You matter very much to God; this was all for you. Your neighbor also matters equally as much as you, yet some do not yet know this, and it will take you and me the effort to win them for God.
PRAYER: Loving God, we are thankful You have invited us to live in Your kingdom. Help me be a responsible and loving member of this new place, loving and welcoming all people. Forgive for having made distinctions in the past over who should be here with us and who should not. Help us grow your kingdom; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Welcome all people to your life!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
