Caring for the Stranger Among Us
God’s heart has always beat for the outsider — the refugee, the poor, the forgotten, and the displaced. Today, that may include refugee families rebuilding their lives, immigrants adjusting to a new culture, the homeless in our cities, or neighbors quietly struggling to survive. Scripture reminds us that caring for them is not optional; it reflects the very character of God.
In Leviticus 19:34, the Lord commands: “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” God calls His people to remember their own dependence on mercy. Compassion grows when we remember we, too, are recipients of grace.
Jesus makes this even more personal in Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” When we welcome refugees, serve the homeless, or assist the needy, we are serving Christ Himself. Our kindness becomes worship.
The early church understood this. Acts 4 describes believers sharing their possessions so “there were no needy persons among them” (Acts 4:34). Their generosity was not driven by obligation but by love overflowing from transformed hearts.
That same spirit of generosity and compassion continues today through local churches and ministries that serve those in need. I love being part of a church who has a heart for the strangers among us, and who gives so generously in order that many can be served through Jenks CarePoint and The Ministry Center. Caring for those in need at both centers involves more than providing food and clothing. Opportunities are also provided to learn English, navigate paperwork, find employment, apply for housing, and connect with community resources. Sometimes what is needed is simply an offer of friendship and a listening ear. Small acts, done in Christ’s name, carry eternal significance.
Compassion can feel costly or inconvenient, but God sees every effort. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
May we reflect the mercy we have received. May our homes, churches, and hearts be open. And may the world see Jesus through the way we love the least, the lost, and the last.
In Leviticus 19:34, the Lord commands: “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” God calls His people to remember their own dependence on mercy. Compassion grows when we remember we, too, are recipients of grace.
Jesus makes this even more personal in Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” When we welcome refugees, serve the homeless, or assist the needy, we are serving Christ Himself. Our kindness becomes worship.
The early church understood this. Acts 4 describes believers sharing their possessions so “there were no needy persons among them” (Acts 4:34). Their generosity was not driven by obligation but by love overflowing from transformed hearts.
That same spirit of generosity and compassion continues today through local churches and ministries that serve those in need. I love being part of a church who has a heart for the strangers among us, and who gives so generously in order that many can be served through Jenks CarePoint and The Ministry Center. Caring for those in need at both centers involves more than providing food and clothing. Opportunities are also provided to learn English, navigate paperwork, find employment, apply for housing, and connect with community resources. Sometimes what is needed is simply an offer of friendship and a listening ear. Small acts, done in Christ’s name, carry eternal significance.
Compassion can feel costly or inconvenient, but God sees every effort. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
May we reflect the mercy we have received. May our homes, churches, and hearts be open. And may the world see Jesus through the way we love the least, the lost, and the last.
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