Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger, just as He welcomed us, breaking down barriers and inviting all into His family. When we remember that each of us has felt like an outsider at some point, it becomes clear that God’s heart is for the misfit, the outcast, and the left out. He flips the script, using those the world overlooks, and calls us to do the same. Welcoming others isn’t just about being friendly; it’s about extending the same grace and belonging that Christ offered us, making sure no one remains a stranger in our midst. [39:34]
Matthew 25:35 (ESV)
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Reflection: Who is someone in your life or church that you’ve noticed on the fringes or feeling left out? How can you intentionally reach out to them this week and make them feel truly welcomed?
Jesus Himself experienced what it meant to be a stranger—rejected by His own, misunderstood, and unwelcome in the world He created. He knows the pain of being on the outside, and yet He chose that path so that we could be brought into God’s family. No matter how isolated or unworthy you may feel, remember that Jesus became the ultimate outsider so you could belong, and His resurrection is proof that your story isn’t over. [01:00:44]
John 1:10-11 (ESV)
“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”
Reflection: When have you felt rejected or like an outsider? How does knowing that Jesus understands and shares in that experience change the way you see your own story today?
The enemy wants to keep you trapped in a “stranger” mindset, whispering lies that you don’t belong, aren’t worthy, or can’t change. But you have the authority, through Jesus, to serve an eviction notice to every lie, stronghold, and foothold the enemy has tried to claim in your life. Plead the blood of Jesus, stand in the power of the Holy Spirit, and declare that the enemy has no place in your mind, your home, or your future—today is the day to take back your identity as a child of God. [48:26]
James 4:7 (ESV)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Reflection: What is one specific lie or negative thought the enemy has been speaking into your life? Write it down, and then pray out loud, serving an “eviction notice” in Jesus’ name over that area today.
God commands us not just to be kind or friendly, but to practice radical hospitality—a risky, open-hearted welcome to those we don’t know. This is how the world will know we are His: by our love for one another, especially for the stranger. True hospitality means seeing every person as someone Christ died for, and making space for them in our lives, our homes, and our church, so that no one remains a stranger to the kingdom. [01:07:44]
Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Reflection: Where in your daily routine can you intentionally practice hospitality—at work, at church, or in your neighborhood? What is one practical step you can take this week to make a stranger feel at home?
It’s easy to give the minimum—minimum effort in relationships, prayer, or service—and then wonder why we still feel like strangers. But God calls us to pour out our whole hearts, to invest fully in His kingdom, and to act like the beloved sons and daughters we are. When you step out of the “stranger” mindset and give God your all, you’ll find true belonging, purpose, and the power to help others do the same. [01:17:07]
Romans 12:11-13 (ESV)
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Reflection: In what area of your walk with God have you been giving the minimum? What would it look like to give your maximum effort in that area this week?
There is a deep longing in every human heart to belong, to be welcomed, and to know that we are not outsiders. From the very beginning, God has shown that He is drawn to the misfits, the outcasts, and those who feel left out. Each of us, at some point, has felt like a stranger—awkward, unsure, or on the outside looking in. But Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” are not just a call to hospitality; they are a revelation of God’s heart for us and a challenge to how we see ourselves and others.
God’s pattern throughout Scripture is to use those the world overlooks: Abraham, Joseph, Ruth, David—all were strangers in some way, yet God welcomed them and gave them purpose. In Christ, we are no longer strangers but children of God, welcomed into His family. The enemy, however, works tirelessly to keep us in a “stranger mentality”—isolated, insecure, and convinced that we don’t belong. He whispers lies to keep us from community, from church, and from the fullness of God’s promises.
But we have authority in Jesus to serve an eviction notice to the enemy. We do not have to let him take up residence in our minds, our homes, or our relationships. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the promises of God’s Word, we can declare that the enemy has no place in our lives. It’s time to stop giving the minimum—minimum effort, minimum faith, minimum love—and expecting maximum results. Instead, we are called to radical hospitality, to welcome others as Christ has welcomed us, and to step fully into our identity as sons and daughters of the King.
Hospitality is not just a suggestion; it is a command repeated throughout Scripture. We are to love, welcome, and care for others, especially those who feel like strangers. When we do, we reflect the heart of God and create a community where no one is left out. Let us leave behind the mindset of being a stranger and embrace the calling to be family—to God, to each other, and to every person who walks through our doors.
Matthew 25:35 (ESV) — > "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
John 1:10-11 (ESV) — > "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him."
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