Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
Exodus 23:9
Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.
New International Version (NIV)
How do we relate to the guest in our gates? Ancient Israel had foreigners in their midst. Would God allow them to mistreat or oppress them?
Growing up in Germany gave me an interesting perspective on being a guest in a different country. My family spent nearly eight years in Germany when I was young. We lived upstairs in the same house with four generations of a German family. They treated us with great kindness, making us feel welcome, even though twenty-five years earlier our countries had been at war with each other.
God reminded his people that they had once been foreigners in Egypt. They were to treat the guests in their gates the way they wanted to be treated. John’s vision of heaven in Revelation includes people from every tribe, tongue and nation. How can we use our time on earth to bring the maximum number of people into relationship with Christ? We can afford to be kind as Christ has been kind to us.
Pray with me:
Father, thank you for taking us in when we were outsiders and welcoming us into your family. Give us your heart for people today. Build your church as we fulfill your Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we! Joyfully, Duane
Copyright 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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