Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
Riding her bike on the busy street wasn’t unusual. Maneuvering around a parked bus wasn’t too unusual either. But crossing over the cable car rails on the pavement was. The tire caught in the slot between the rails and the bike came to a screeching halt, throwing its rider onto the unforgiving asphalt. What happened next was a miracle.
Within seconds, pedestrians witnessing the accident ran to her aid. One woman calmed her down and helped extricate her from the bike. One man lifted her up, carrying her out of harm’s way onto a nearby sidewalk. Another hoisted her bike up out of the street and placed it next to her. He ran to a nearby café for ice to put on her already swollen knee and stayed with her until her friend arrived. When my daughter told me of her rescuers, I was overwhelmed by their kindness.
Care from total strangers is so foreign to us. While we are accustomed to news of man’s inhumanity to man, how heart-warming it is to hear of the compassion of strangers who saw a need and met it. My faith in humanity is restored. To believe in unprompted goodness and mercy is wonderfully encouraging.
When asked “who is my neighbor?” by an inquiring religious leader, Jesus tells the familiar story of the Good Samaritan, who despite the fact he was an enemy, took the time to care for the victim of a robbery. Jesus points out that the Samaritan showed mercy to his “neighbor”.
Who is my neighbor? Is it simply someone who lives in my neighborhood or is it anyone who crosses my path who needs my help?
When we see someone in need, do we actually stop to help? Or are we too busy? Do we have our calendars packed with appointments and “to do’s” that we can’t meet a need when it is right in front of us? Do we rely on others who have “the gift of mercy” to help instead of us? I’m so thankful that those who stopped to help my daughter that day didn’t hesitate.
According to Hebrews 13:2, when we show hospitality to strangers, we could indeed be providing hospitality to angels. Or maybe, as it happened that day on her bike, my daughter was ministered to by pedestrian angels who showed kindness to a stranger.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your ministering angels that come to my aid. May I be that “angel” that helps the strangers You put in my path that need Your loving care. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Riding her bike on the busy street wasn’t unusual. Maneuvering around a parked bus wasn’t too unusual either. But crossing over the cable car rails on the pavement was. The tire caught in the slot between the rails and the bike came to a screeching halt, throwing its rider onto the unforgiving asphalt. What happened next was a miracle.
Within seconds, pedestrians witnessing the accident ran to her aid. One woman calmed her down and helped extricate her from the bike. One man lifted her up, carrying her out of harm’s way onto a nearby sidewalk. Another hoisted her bike up out of the street and placed it next to her. He ran to a nearby café for ice to put on her already swollen knee and stayed with her until her friend arrived. When my daughter told me of her rescuers, I was overwhelmed by their kindness.
Care from total strangers is so foreign to us. While we are accustomed to news of man’s inhumanity to man, how heart-warming it is to hear of the compassion of strangers who saw a need and met it. My faith in humanity is restored. To believe in unprompted goodness and mercy is wonderfully encouraging.
When asked “who is my neighbor?” by an inquiring religious leader, Jesus tells the familiar story of the Good Samaritan, who despite the fact he was an enemy, took the time to care for the victim of a robbery. Jesus points out that the Samaritan showed mercy to his “neighbor”.
Who is my neighbor? Is it simply someone who lives in my neighborhood or is it anyone who crosses my path who needs my help?
When we see someone in need, do we actually stop to help? Or are we too busy? Do we have our calendars packed with appointments and “to do’s” that we can’t meet a need when it is right in front of us? Do we rely on others who have “the gift of mercy” to help instead of us? I’m so thankful that those who stopped to help my daughter that day didn’t hesitate.
According to Hebrews 13:2, when we show hospitality to strangers, we could indeed be providing hospitality to angels. Or maybe, as it happened that day on her bike, my daughter was ministered to by pedestrian angels who showed kindness to a stranger.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your ministering angels that come to my aid. May I be that “angel” that helps the strangers You put in my path that need Your loving care. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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