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‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’ (Matthew 10:40-42)
As a superintendent, I heard all of my churches say they were welcoming churches. And some were telling the truth. As a regular visitor now in retired status, we enter churches virtually unknown and thus far, we have been welcomed by some. Why is that important? Welcoming is a part of connecting and the start of belonging. We long to belong. And that is a key part of worship and a key part of what we do as believers. Jesus was big on welcoming all. He wanted people to welcome His Father and the message the Father had sent through Him. And in today's passage He stresses it again. To welcome Jesus is to welcome God. And if you welcome one who comes with a word from God, you will receive a prophet's reward, and the same for those who welcome the righteous. And it's the little things, like giving someone a cup of cold water that seems to sum up the message of welcome. My wife tells the story of the day she and her siblings followed their mom down the dusty back road from La Joya all the way to Rio Grande City. The purpose of the trip was to go and surprise my father-in-law on his birthday. They only had one car, and my mother-in-law did not drive. They walked in the hot summer sun and came by a small place where the old woman who lived there called for them to stop and come in to her place. She saw the little band of travelers in their greatest need; thirst, and so she offered them cool water. She had also boiled some potatoes for lunch and offered them that meal. It was a gesture they never forgot for they were blessed by this lady's kindness and care.
Whom will you bless this day with your kindness? Whom will you welcome into a relationship with God?
PRAYER: Loving Father, may I welcome all today in ways that bless You and Your message. Help me to be one who offers the coolness of living water. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a glass of water for someone today!
Eradio Valverde
