Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.The Bible not only says we should do good to everyone because that's what true Christians do, but because we may be doing them for angels in disguise! I don't know about you, bu that makes me go, "Oh crap. How many times have I not been a good Christian to an angel in disguise?" I go back on all the times I wasn't hospitable, or kind, or Christlike to other people. It upsets me! I wish I could have known this verse back when I was a crappier Christian.
The Bible also talks somewhat about this on Judgment Day when God separates the sheep from the goats:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. ”
God is not saying He is every single person you have helped or not helped. He's saying that you either do something for God or you don't do something for God. Just as simple as it is saying there are two types of people in the world: the sheep and the goats (saved and not saved). It doesn't matter how "good" you are, you'll still be a goat if you're not a follower of Jesus Christ.
We must be kind to all, for we serve the Creator of the universe.
Lord, I pray that You will remind us of these verses every day so that we will know that all that we do is representative of You.
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