‘Truly I (Jesus) tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.‘ Matt. 25:40
The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Lev. 19:33-34
In Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph. 2:13
Heavenly Father, flying in and out of Dallas this week, I found my provincial, suspicious heart in play, as I looked at a growing diversity of fellow travelers. I’m sure some of those feelings were tied to the coronavirus threat, but I had less noble thoughts as well.
But no matter our own nation of origin, we were in the far away land of sin and death when you rescued and redeemed us. We were foreigners to your mercies, strangers to your grace, and rebels to your rule. Thank you for welcoming us joyfully into the gracious country of the Gospel.
You had great compassion on us, welcomed us, and adopted us into your family—making us a nation of priests, to worship and serve you forever. We are citizens of heaven, with new-birth certificates, and a calling to love others as you love us in Jesus.
Though the issues are complex, and the risks are many, help us be more welcoming than fearful, as we think about foreigners, strangers, and refugees. Increase our faith, enlarge our hearts, and supersize our love.
May wisdom trump fear, generous welcome be more obvious than self-protection, and good policies prevail over partisan politics. Father, may our churches lead the way by caring more for the “least of these,” than fearing the “worst of them.”
Help us channel our fear and anger into acts of radical mercy and grace. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ loving and welcoming name.