Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2
One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get some shelter for the night.
"Could you possibly give us a room here?" the husband asked. The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town. "All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said, "But I can't send a nice couple like you out into the rain at one o'clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night."
When the couple declined, the young man pressed on. "Don't worry about me; I'll make out just fine," the clerk told them. So the couple agreed.
One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get some shelter for the night.
"Could you possibly give us a room here?" the husband asked. The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town. "All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said, "But I can't send a nice couple like you out into the rain at one o'clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night."
When the couple declined, the young man pressed on. "Don't worry about me; I'll make out just fine," the clerk told them. So the couple agreed.
As he paid his bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk, "You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I'll build one for you!" The clerk looked at them and smiled. Then the three of them had a good laugh!
As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn't always easy.
Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the couple completely, when he received a letter from the older man. It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round-trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.
As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn't always easy.
Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the couple completely, when he received a letter from the older man. It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round-trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.
The old man met the clerk in New York, and led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. He then pointed to a great new building there, a palace of reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky.
"That," said the older man, "is the hotel I have just built for you to manage!" "You must be joking," the young man said. "I can assure you I am not." said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth. The older man's name was William Waldorf Astor, and the magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt. This young clerk never foresaw the turn of events that would lead him to become the manager of one of the world's most glamorous hotels.
We never know who might come into our lives or who may show up on our very own doorsteps. Abraham once saw the Lord and two angels heading towards his tent. Genesis 18:1-3 Abraham immediately fetched water to wash their feet and went to Sarah, telling her to make some food. Abraham knew how to be hospitable, and it became increasingly clear that he was entertaining angels and the Lord himself!
God's Word tells us never to turn our backs on those who are in need, for we might be entertaining angels. We can not fall short of Abrahams example, to be generous and charitable.
Jesus said, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in... Matthew 25:35 He then
made it more clear to us, when He said, "...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40
We may not always be able to share financially, but we should always be ready to spread the Love of God to anyone in need. Our faith, our joy, our peace are all attributes this world is lacking and many may profit from a kind word or a sincere expression of joy and peace.
When we show kindness to the unlovely or give liberally to those in need, we may just be entertaining the angels... or even our Lord. Remember, life is more accurately measured by the lives we touch, than the things we acquire!
Who have you been entertaining?
"That," said the older man, "is the hotel I have just built for you to manage!" "You must be joking," the young man said. "I can assure you I am not." said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth. The older man's name was William Waldorf Astor, and the magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt. This young clerk never foresaw the turn of events that would lead him to become the manager of one of the world's most glamorous hotels.
We never know who might come into our lives or who may show up on our very own doorsteps. Abraham once saw the Lord and two angels heading towards his tent. Genesis 18:1-3 Abraham immediately fetched water to wash their feet and went to Sarah, telling her to make some food. Abraham knew how to be hospitable, and it became increasingly clear that he was entertaining angels and the Lord himself!
God's Word tells us never to turn our backs on those who are in need, for we might be entertaining angels. We can not fall short of Abrahams example, to be generous and charitable.
Jesus said, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in... Matthew 25:35 He then
made it more clear to us, when He said, "...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40
We may not always be able to share financially, but we should always be ready to spread the Love of God to anyone in need. Our faith, our joy, our peace are all attributes this world is lacking and many may profit from a kind word or a sincere expression of joy and peace.
When we show kindness to the unlovely or give liberally to those in need, we may just be entertaining the angels... or even our Lord. Remember, life is more accurately measured by the lives we touch, than the things we acquire!
Who have you been entertaining?
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