Theme: THE GOLDEN RULE
Text: “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” – James 2:15,16.
Comment: It is the good mind of treating others as one would like if one were in the shoes of the other person that moves one to give help to someone who is in need, as stated in the text for today. It was this mind that made Abraham to show hospitality to the three men who appeared to be walking past his tent. Seeing that they should need refreshments after a long journey, he begged them to stop by to have their feet washed, after which they would rest awhile under the shade of a tree to have some food before they continued their journey. – Genesis 18:2-10.
Also, when Lot, the nephew of Abraham saw two men coming towards Sodom he went to them to offer them lodging place for the night, and to wash their feet. Even though they appeared to be reluctant, he insisted and they stayed and even ate. It should be highlighted that it was in the course of being provided hospitality by Abraham that the angels revealed to him that they were on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Also, Lot only knew who the two men were and their mission when they lodged in his house, and told him, “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee…lest thou be consumed.” (Genesis 19:17) The Bible says, “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” – Hebrews 13:1,2.