Receive One Another
"Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God."(Romans 15:7)
"My friend felt nervous excitement when she signed up for the church women's retreat-alone. It wasn't easy to do, but she reasoned that spending a weekend with other Christian women would allow her to meet badly needed friends and integrate more quickly into the life of her new church. Her confidence was short-lived. After Friday night dinner, she walked alone to the auditorium as other women strolled with friends, their happy chatter a reminder that she was an outsider. "O well, at least I'll get a good seat.", she thought, trying to stay positive in an uncomfortable situation. She walked toward the front and was shocked to see every seat taken, saved by Bibles that women had placed there before dinner. She moved further back, only to find the same thing. The only seat open was a corner one on the very last row. Every Bible on every chair seemed to scream "you aren't welcome here. We already have friends, and you aren't one of them." Of course, this was not the intent, still it was a memory she never forgot." (Donna Jones Crosswalk.com contributing writer)
*This happens too often in our churches.
It has happened to me and my family. (GP)
The apostle Paul encourages us in our text to "receive one another."
In other-words, welcome one another, pay attention to one another, accept one another, especially those who are new to the Christian fellowship of believers, in the body of Christ.
It is a nerve wracking, anxious feeling to feel like a stranger, an outsider, when you begin attending a church. You hope that you will be accepted, and in time feel like you are part of the family of believers. But as Christians, with the preoccupation with ourselves, and the people in our inner circle, we can make people feel like they are not wanted, and that they don't belong.
Well if Jesus Christ welcomed them to Him, as their Savior, and Shepherd, shouldn't we welcome, and accept them as brothers and sisters into the family of God? There should be no strangers in the body of Christ, only friends we have not had the opportunity to know and to love.
Let's open up our hearts to others today! GP
*(GP) Gary Patterson
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