Listen

"Remain in this house, eating and drinking whatever they set before you, for workers deserve their pay. Don’t move from house to house. Whenever you enter a city and its people welcome you, eat what they set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘God’s kingdom has come upon you.’ Whenever you enter a city and the people don’t welcome you, go out into the streets and say, ‘As a complaint against you, we brush off the dust of your city that has collected on our feet. But know this: God’s kingdom has come to you.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Luke 10:7-11, 16

Think

There is something special about being welcomed in a place. I come from the Deep South, and being welcomed means hospitality, support, love — even sweet tea, fried chicken, and okra! Most importantly, being welcomed translates to being around hearts that are unconditionally open to our faults. When we are with people like that, we can be at our best. We can get things done, right?

Jesus tells those he commissioned to go where they are welcomed, and in the words of my pastor, “do Jesus stuff.” Jesus also says to move on when not welcomed. I’ve heard it said that it is our work to share God’s message, and it is God’s work to use it. You know, that is kind of liberating.

As you go about your day, do Jesus stuff — be compassionate, kind, meek, and patient. Share the message of Jesus, and let God use it. Remember, God’s got this.

Bill Ogletree

Pray

Thank you, God, for the welcoming people in my life. Thank you for your message of grace and love. Use me today as your messenger and servant. Amen.

Go

Mother Teresa once wrote that we can let God’s grace work in our souls by accepting whatever God gives us and giving whatever God takes from us. She says: “True holiness consists of doing God’s work with a smile.”