Joy for AllSample

Welcome Others In

Have you seen the classic, famous movie It’s a Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart? I know, I know. It’s an old Christmas movie, and it’s not even close to Christmastime, but I was just thinking about the end of that movie.

If you haven’t seen it, I’ll just say that the main character George Bailey has a really rough time, realizes how wonderful life is, and rushes home to his family that night.

He’s surprised to find his house full of people who love and care about him. Every window just bursts with light against the dark sky.

There are so many people in the world, you know, who don’t have anyone to welcome them home. They feel lost and alone.

Jesus calls us to welcome those people into our lives, just like He did. Jesus was so welcoming that people gossiped about it.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law used to grumble, “This man receives sinners and eats with them!” Eating with someone was a high honor, and Jesus gave that honor to sinners, people who were outcasts from polite society. Jesus is our example of hospitality.

We can invite others to a good meal and welcome them to a community that is warm and inviting against the cold outside world. They can feel the love of Jesus and the care of a Christ-centered family when you do that.

So, let’s show them what a wonderful life it is with Christ.