Considering strangers

"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?" Matthew 5:46-47.

I was surprised by a compliment the other discussing a problem at the customer service department of Home Depot. It was late in the day and I had made a note of the name of the weary young lady who was assisting me and was careful to call her by name in our conversation. As I was leaving I was shocked at the words, "You are the nicest customer I have had all day." I was not conscious of being especially nice.

An adversarial attitude of mistrust and suspicion to strangers is a universal human tendency. The root of these fears lies in the sinful human nature. Exclusiveness, discrimination, and many other evils flow out of it. God's nature is unconditional goodness, kindness, and mercy to all creatures.

Jesus taught His followers the opposite of normal human attitudes. "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:44-45.

Christians are not immune from a suspicious mistrust of strangers and, in fact, may have even more reasons than others. It is much safer and less troublesome to live incognito than to risk rejection.

Giving a smile, a cordial greeting, or even a short prayer for blessing and encouragement to a stranger costs nothing and may be an incredible blessing. Professing Christians should resist the suspicious tendency toward the strangers they meet. "I was a stranger and you took Me in," Matthew 25:35.

Our prayer should be that God would make goodness and kindness to others and especially strangers, a part of our nature so that He can bless them through us. You never know when showing kindness at the right time may change someone's life forever. This brings glory to our Heavenly Father.

Since none are strangers to God, He forbids us look on the stranger with disrespect or even indifference for in the veins of all human beings there runs common blood and, sadly, the same common grievous sin of Adam contaminates all. We also have a desperate common need of One who is willing to forgive and bring us into the experience of salvation - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Gene Holman of Living Word Fellowship is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.