Which Way Does Your Welcome Mat Go?
Fall seems to make some of us feel like decorating! Ah, the changing colors, the cooler air the reality of the closeness of Christmas...
Dragging out the fall decorations used to be a time to clean up after the business of summer. I typically want to open all the windows and doors, get them cleaned and air out the house... And get new welcome mats.
I may be more picky about my welcome mats than I am any other decoration for the home. They need to be pretty sturdy, do the job they're meant for and look nice. Do you even notice people's welcome mat? I do, probably because I have to see every spot I place my foot. Right now mine are hideous.
Once I went to a house that had a mat that said "WELCOME", but it was upside down to me. Humm...Am I welcome to enter, or would I be more welcome to exit. I was perplexed. More than likely they didn't even give the direction of the mat a second thought, but it really got me to thinking about how we present ourselves. Does our countenance say, "Welcome! I'm glad to see you!" or does it say, "Geez I'll sure be glad to see you out the door!"?
I'd like my welcome mat to sound off a celebration. I like visitors! Especially family. There aren't too many solicitors out here and my dog would probably eat them if they were not familiar anyway, so if I had a welcome mat that sounded off a happy-to-see-you-glad-you-are-here song, I'd be tickled.
Romans 15 describes this feeling to me. Verse 7 says, "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." So, how exactly can we do that? How did Christ receive us? Well, speaking for myself, He received me as a sinner, someone who was filthy with sin. Sin clung to me like mud on a pig. It had been rubbed in and dried to where it was not coming off easy. Christ opened His arms to me and wrapped me in His tender, loving, comforting embrace. He washed me clean as the driven snow, and set me back on my feet to go out and live for Him. Everyday, I choose to get muddy again, but everyday He washes me clean and sends me back out to serve Him. Over and over again.
But even before the "welcoming", it says in verses 1-6 that we should help our neighbors. Neighbors aren't just the folks that live within the vicinity of our homes. Neighbors are those across town. The people you meet at the local shops: Grocery, Tire, Gas, Feed all the places you go. Some of my favorite "neighbors" are over 30 miles from my house. My Bible says, "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." That says to me, whatever anyone has done, said or thought about me has been done, said or thought about Christ. Wow. Imagine the things you may have thought about someone...now think about thinking those thoughts of our Savior. That's what this means! Christ takes on all our inequities, our struggles and pains. We are His children! Whatever we say or do to each other affects Him. Whatever someone says or does to one of my kids, I feel in my bones as if it was said or done to me, so I can understand this.
Christ was a wonderful example to us. That's why He was sent here; to show us how to be like Him so that we can relate to Him. By treating others the way Christ treated everyone we can break down barriers of hate and bullying, so that we can all have the peace He gives as we also believe in Him and accept salvation to eventually spend eternity together with Him. This brings Him glory! vs 7&8. "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers."
Oh and finally, vs. 10 and 11 are the celebration song to the welcome mat. "Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people." (To laud is to give great praise! I imagine it as exhilarated praise!) Yes! I can relate this to the joy I have in my heart when someone makes their profession of faith! Giddy, excitement and relief wash over me...also called JOY! Joy comes from the Lord!
The rest of the story tells example of how we ought to go through the rest of our days. It gives heart-felt example to us to go out and tell anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to hear. Mind you, I'm certain that includes those who have heard of Christ, but may not have heard my story. I have heard testimony from people who heard a very different story of God than I know. Living our lives in a way that is appealing to others and reaping the blessing from serving God is a testament to others. There's always someone watching you. You can either turn them off to God, or turn them onto Him.
Maybe I'll invent a two-way-musical welcome mat so that there won't be any question that you're welcome either way you look at it. More importantly, I'll be a two-way Joyful Christian who is welcoming either way I'm seen. This will take some work, but I know the more joyful I am, the easier it will be. And my joy, my hope, my love and reason for living is all around me and comes straight and direct from the Lord. Hallelujah!
Heavenly Father, I'm blown away by your love for me. It amazes me daily. Thank you for carrying me through the rough times and making me shine through the good times. I long to give you glory for every single thing. Please help me to be more like you every moment. Show me. Teach me. Lead and guide me. Bring forth my neighbors and allow me to glorify you as I welcome them to your kingdom. Let me always, only, be a light that leads to you. Thank you for your grace and your love. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
