Entertaining Angels - Martin Wiles

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Hebrews 13:2 NLT

The promise was an old one. 

He’d prayed that his wife would be able to conceive and give him a child—hopefully a male child. In his spirit, he thought he had heard God tell him it would happen in time. Years went by…nothing. 

Now he and his wife were long past the age of having and rearing children. Then one day out of the blue—as he was lounging in his tent under a cool shade tree, three men appeared out of nowhere. He hadn’t had company to entertain in quite some time, so he welcomed them in and instructed his servants to prepare some food. 

Strangely, one of the strangers asked where his wife was. She was resting in the tent. Then came a startling announcement, “About this time next year I will return, and your wife will have a son.” His wife heard the announcement and laughed silently—or so she thought. The stranger heard her and cautioned her not to doubt God. The next year they were holding a son. 

Abraham and Sarah haven’t been the only ones in history to entertain angels and not know it. Old Testament Gideon and Manoah did as well. Not until the angel left did they understand what had happened. They often show up as strangers. 

With the exception of the first three months of my existence, I’ve lived in the South my entire life. One characteristic of the South that so many appreciate is our friendliness. Being spoken to, waved at, or smiled at by strangers is a typical thing. Strangers aren’t afraid to make eye contact with other strangers. In fact, if you walk around without doing those things, you’ll be considered the odd one out. 

I admit my hesitancy to help strangers. Our world is dangerous—and many people are untrustworthy, but it doesn’t unwind my responsibility to help those God places in my path. If he puts them there, I must trust him to protect me as I serve them. 

Are you open to entertaining strangers…or angels?

Prayer: Father, open our eyes to helping those You place in our paths.

Selena’s hope seemed to vanish long ago when her dad kicked her and her mom out of the house. Use coupon MWiles for 20% off ebook. Click here to order. 

Nominate Maggie, Choosing Love over Loss, and help me win a Kindle Scout ebook contract. Click here to preview & vote. 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.