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5 June 2008
Word on the Web
Judges 19 v 16-21
Finally, in the evening an old man came in from his work in the fields. His home was in the mountains of Ephraim, but now he was living in Gibeah. (The people of Gibeah were from the tribe of Benjamin.) He saw the traveller in the public square and asked, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?"
The Levite answered, "We are travelling from Bethlehem in Judah to my home in the mountains of Ephraim. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah, but now I am going to the Holy Tent of the LORD. No one has invited me to stay in his house. We already have straw and food for our donkeys and bread and wine for me, the young woman, and my servant. We don't need anything."
The old man said, "You are welcome to stay at my house. Let me give you anything you need, but don't spend the night in the public square." So the old man took the Levite into his house, and he fed their donkeys. They washed their feet and had something to eat and drink.
At last, someone who was prepared to offer the expected hospitality to a stranger. Not a local but a fellow northerner, an old man who remembered the moral teaching of the days of old. A man who knew enough about the locality to be horrified at the idea of a stranger sleeping out in the streets.
We too know of places where it is not safe, where the innocent or the ignorant will come to harm if we do not act to help and protect them. Some of these are geographical places whilst others are social or moral.
Many of us live in a society which has lost much of the tradition of hospitality - even offering your seat on the train to someone old is regarded as surprising. Many of us live in streets where we hardly know our neighbours and have no concept of community.
What could you do this summer to practise hospitality? Taking cakes to the people who have just moved in, a street barbecue, helping a neighbour to cut the grass or mend a fence - all simple things which could help to transform your community. Will you take the initiative?
Lord Jesus, help me to be a community-transformer. Show me practical ideas of how I can show love to my neighbour. Amen
Written by James Archer
Word on the Web
Judges 19 v 16-21
Finally, in the evening an old man came in from his work in the fields. His home was in the mountains of Ephraim, but now he was living in Gibeah. (The people of Gibeah were from the tribe of Benjamin.) He saw the traveller in the public square and asked, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?"
The Levite answered, "We are travelling from Bethlehem in Judah to my home in the mountains of Ephraim. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah, but now I am going to the Holy Tent of the LORD. No one has invited me to stay in his house. We already have straw and food for our donkeys and bread and wine for me, the young woman, and my servant. We don't need anything."
The old man said, "You are welcome to stay at my house. Let me give you anything you need, but don't spend the night in the public square." So the old man took the Levite into his house, and he fed their donkeys. They washed their feet and had something to eat and drink.
At last, someone who was prepared to offer the expected hospitality to a stranger. Not a local but a fellow northerner, an old man who remembered the moral teaching of the days of old. A man who knew enough about the locality to be horrified at the idea of a stranger sleeping out in the streets.
We too know of places where it is not safe, where the innocent or the ignorant will come to harm if we do not act to help and protect them. Some of these are geographical places whilst others are social or moral.
Many of us live in a society which has lost much of the tradition of hospitality - even offering your seat on the train to someone old is regarded as surprising. Many of us live in streets where we hardly know our neighbours and have no concept of community.
What could you do this summer to practise hospitality? Taking cakes to the people who have just moved in, a street barbecue, helping a neighbour to cut the grass or mend a fence - all simple things which could help to transform your community. Will you take the initiative?
Lord Jesus, help me to be a community-transformer. Show me practical ideas of how I can show love to my neighbour. Amen
Written by James Archer
