Have you seen a stranger sight than this recently? The Yeti, a six inch long crab found in the South Pacific is one very exotic critter. Taste tests are coming—hold on. In Europe people eat horse meat. India has a problem with hunger, yet they don’t eat cows. In Southeast Asia people eat dogs. In America people eat snails. It should be obvious, the world is…strange.
People sure have some strange habits don’t they? But to complicate matters, scripture mentions something about the strange habits some angels have! Like what? The Bible has been around for at least 2,000 years, and parts of it have been around for 3,000 years plus! This information should be common knowledge by now, but few people are remotely aware of it.
The first record of this peculiar habit by angels is recorded in Genesis 18. Three ‘men’ traveling stopped to visit Abraham and Sarah at Hebron. The men informed Abraham he would have a child by Sarah that time next year! Another record is found in Judges 6, when Gideon talked with a ‘gentleman’ about the Midianites and all the troubles they were causing. Yet another very special angel of the Lord (Christ) came to a woman who was sterile and childless that she would have a son—and she did. There are other cases involving these men/angels sent from the Lord to convey a message. In Luke an angel from heaven appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Olives to strengthen him. In Acts 12 the Lord sent an angel to rescue Peter from prison and death. We shouldn’t be surprised when we read of these theophanies. Paul reminded the people in his day, and us in our day of what could happen.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 12:3
Even though all strangers are not angels we are to love one another not only like a brother, but, because he “is” our brother. When we entertain strangers we must treat all persons with respect and dignity as if they are Jesus, and that is not an easy task. Jesus demands our personal involvement in caring for others needs. What we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus’ words to us—feed the hungry, give the homeless a place to stay, look after the sick and elderly. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling,” 1 Peter 4:9
Bottom line
We are to love one another not only like a brother, but, because we are brothers. Our faith lacks sincerity if we don’t reach out to others.
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