Hebrews 13:2

New International Version

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

For Meditation

I arrived one day early. The Hall at Moody Bible College that would house us for the Pastor’s Conference would not open till the next day. I checked for availability in two nearby hotels for the night. The affordable one was full. Caught in limbo and wandering, I spotted a McDonald’s a little distance away. My stomach churned in agreement, so I walked over and sat over a sandwich, reading “The Roots of Righteousness” by A. W. Tozer.

A street guy entered shortly after and sat close by me. He was not the type you would comfortably welcome at your dinner table, but he calmly sat and stared at me. He pleaded for some time when a security officer asked him to leave. May in windy Chicago is difficult on anyone in the streets, so the officer understood. But I should have known better. The man needed food, and I could provide it. The thought flashed through my mind, but I quickly buried it. Yet, I was reading “The Roots of Righteousness.”

Who was I kidding?

The time ran out for the poor man, and the officer asked him to leave. I could sense his pain and reluctance to leave. The urge to buy him some food surged back in me, but I froze. I sat there motionless as the poor man picked himself up and walked towards the exit. He stopped at the door as if to give himself the last opportunity for my offer, but I just looked on. He wiped his nose, straightened his jacket, and walked out into the street. I visually followed him until he melted into the late afternoon crowd. A heavy load of guilt assailed me, and I could not believe I acted that callously. Should I go after him?

The irony of the situation is that I was equally homeless, needing a place to stay for the night.

Do we hear when God speaks to us?

{To be continued}