We’ve all heard stories of angelic visits and some of us may even yearn for our own experience of the supernatural. If so, today’s Holy Nougat could be worth our while.
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to believers you don’t know. By doing this some believers have shown hospitality to angels without being aware of it.”
Hebrews 13:2 GW
It may not be an angel in the literal sense as well as it can be. I suspect that the writer could have been remembering that profound angelic visit to Abraham. There we found Abraham seeing the three visitors by the oaks of Mamre, and he insisted that they enjoy a meal before continuing on their journey. The joyous outcome of that visit was Abraham and Sarah receiving the prophetic promise of Isaac. Less than a year later, this promise was a blessed reality. Sarah was the mother of that precious boy (see Genesis 18:1-10; 21:1-3).
Interestingly, the angelic visit did not just result in the literal blessings for Abraham and Sarah. We may recall that God also gave Abraham the opportunity to speak life over Sodom and Gomorrah. In that segment of the narrative, Abraham attempted to negotiate for the country, on behalf of the believers – Lot and his girls were rescued.
That’s of course back in the day when it wasn’t as risky to entertain strangers in our homes. Please note the caveat – we are encouraged to show hospitality to ‘believers’. And while we’re all sinners saved by God’s grace, I’m taking that to mean, be discerning and Spirit-led in our offer of hospitality. Plus we don’t have to house overnight in all circumstances.
But more than being hospitable for the sake of potential blessings from an angel, is the very real opportunity to be hospitable to ANYONE we meet. It might be our opportunity to be God’s ‘angelic visitor’ to that person. We can choose to be a blessing to anyone at any time by being hospitable to friends, believers and even strangers.
The most common way is to drop a coin, but we can pray for others also, or ask God to guide us in discerning opportunities to transform lives using our talents, time and even our treasure. Who knows, maybe in us they might meet Jesus by our deeds.