Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
I’ve had many people help me through my life journey. Whether it was a friend who gave me a grocery store gift card that she claimed she didn’t need or a stranger who paid for my drink in the line at Starbucks.
Most of you have heard the term “Pay it Forward”, which means to spread the kindness you’ve received to others.
it isn’t as easy as it sounds.
One evening, about a year ago, I pulled into a gas station to fill up my tank. There was a young woman parked next to a pump and she was asking everyone to help her put gas in her tank. I cut her off before she even spoke to me and told her I wasn’t able to help.
As I kept pumping gas, I thought about the times I’ve been in that position – where I was short money to buy milk for my children, when even $5 would have meant food on the table for my family.
I was embarrassed for not even letting her speak, so I turned to tell her to wait, that I would pay for $10 of gas for her after I was done getting my gas. But she was gone.
I carry the weight of that moment in my heart. I failed to be Christ like. To refuse to help was a reflection of me and not her at all. I could have helped her and I should have helped her.
That woman could have been an angel in disguise and I failed to respect that and refused to help when I could. A friend told me that she was probably fine and just scamming people. My response was that it wasn’t about her. If she had been scamming, that’s on her. My refusal to help was on ME and showed the truth in my heart at that moment.
I use that story as an example of how we can never truly see the hidden angels among us. Our job, as Christians, is to be welcoming and helpful to all.
We should be caring and helpful to others because that’s what Christ did, not because of fear. I don’t help people because I worried about God judging me too harshly when I stand before him (trust me, I’ve done enough wrongs that not giving that woman $10 for gas is small in comparison!). I help people because I love to help people.
The Bible has verse after verse calling us to help others. To help me remember that, I’ve made it my goal to help one person each day. Whether it’s being more patient with others while driving or to let someone in front of me in line at the store. I challenge you to join me – find those hidden angels and show them Christ’s love.
Father, thank you for reminding me that we start each day focused on you and serving others instead of our own wants. Please help me remember to honor you by helping the hidden angels around me. Amen.