March 15, 2011

Reading for March 14-18
Acts 21:1-26
Tuesday

Do You have “Openness of Heart?”

"1 After tearing ourselves away from the Ephesians we sailed . . . and landed at . . . . Tyre . . . .4 We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them . . .” Acts 21:1-4

“Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

Pastor’s Reflection

“After tearing ourselves away”

Many of use this phrase negatively, “we had to tear ourselves away” usually from people who were intruding on our time and plans. No so here. The Ephesians and Paul loved each other and it was hard to say good bye.

In the remainder of this week’s reading we notice that Paul was received by believers in Tyre, Ptolemais, Caesarea, and Jerusalem. Many of those who “received” him had never met him before. Believers took him in, fed him, opened their hearts and lives to him. The practiced “hospitality”, the root meaning of which is “love for strangers”.

Let’s you and I, this week in our “during the week” worlds, practice a “love for strangers”. Let’s be persons of “welcome” and “openness of heart”.

Let’s practice this every Sunday morning. Remember that love of others begins with our love for other believers. Grow you “people eyes”. Approach those who are standing alone and say, “hi”. Be the open door through which another can find access to the Kingdom of God.

And here’s an invitation. We seek more and more ushers and greeters! We can never have too many gracious, warm inviters and includers intentionally serving others!