Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 19

How To Be Honored as a Host

“And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just,” Luke 14:14.

Inclusion has become a buzzword in our world today. For as much as people are talking about it, there is still a community that gets largely overlooked even by those advocating the hardest for modern ideas of inclusion. People with disabilities are the single largest minority group in the world. In terms of the gospel, they are also one of the least-reached minority groups. Pastors and churches often do not know where to start or where the resources will come from to minister to people with disabilities and their families. Jesus addressed all these issues.

The disability community is widely overlooked in churches and the world because they often are seen as bringing little “to the table.” They do not always help our “profit margins.” They are not what we envisioned when we determined our “target audience.” Jesus did not deny these things, but he did say that one day you will be rewarded for being a righteous host in the resurrection if you bring them with you to church. Are we not called to love God and love all people?

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Corporately or individually is your bottom line for reaching people about how you will be benefitted? Do what is right even if it does not seem to make dollars and sense and God will honor you.

Jonathon D. Smith