Scripture
For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
Matthew 25:35 (NLT)
Take a minute to read the story of Jesus and the Woman at the Well in John 4:4-42.
What does “more than welcome” mean? We invite people constantly into our homes. They’re over for dinner or a family gathering. Maybe they just needed to drop something off and were invited inside for a quick chat. Isn’t that enough of a welcome? Jesus showed in this story that it’s not.
Jesus was waiting at a well for his disciples when a woman came along to draw water. The two begin to discuss who they are, the well itself, and then the woman’s personal life. Many people would have shamed this woman for her lifestyle. Instead Jesus reveals to her that he is the Messiah and that he knows everything about her. Jesus began by accepting her where she was. He then invited her into a place of love. He opened a door of her heart. Once he opened that door she was then able to share it with everyone she knew in the town which opened even more doors!
“More than welcome” is an expression that can be overused and seldom truly meant. However, if we begin to break it down to its simplest form, it is one of the greatest expressions of acceptance, trust, and love that can be found.
Reflection Questions
- Who are the people in your life that you would struggle to invite into your home? Why?
- What do you need to do to open your heart to others?
- What are some specific ways you can be “more than welcome” to others in your personal life? In your church? at camp this summer?
Prayer
Ask God to open your heart and reveal to you how you can be “more than welcome” in your life. Ask Him to prepare your heart for camp this summer.