The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States Daily Devotional FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 "The Hope of Refuge" by Bill Findlay (Scotland, United Kingdom)

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, United States Daily Devotional FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 "The Hope of Refuge" by Bill Findlay (Scotland, United Kingdom)

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I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. 
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. 
I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35 (CEB))
We have many refugees in our world today. Some flee civil war or violence. Others have seen their homes destroyed by natural disaster or have experienced the devastation of the infrastructure and industry of their community. The number of refugees saddens many of us, especially because refugees are not always welcomed with open arms.
In the Bible we read about one refugee family in particular — Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. If they had not fled their country seeking refuge, the baby would have been killed by King Herod’s order. Many present-day refugees also face certain death if they remain in their own country. Even when they leave, the danger is not over. They face a perilous journey to other lands.
Mary and Joseph were able to return to their homeland after Herod died and the danger had passed. Many of today’s refugees hope for the same result: they dream of when they might return home.
Those of us who have not been displaced can hope and pray for peace that will allow all refugees to return to their homelands. While we pray, we can also heed Christ’s call to welcome the stranger. As Christians we are called to do all we can for the refugees on our own doorstep.
TODAY'S PRAYER: God of peace, keep us ever mindful of Jesus’ teachings and that when we care for others, we honor him. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Matthew 2:13-15
Matthew 2:13 After they had gone, an angel of Adonai appeared to Yosef in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave. For Herod is going to look for the child in order to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother, and left during the night for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until Herod died. This happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said through the prophet,
“Out of Egypt I called my son.”[Matthew 2:15 Hosea 11:1] (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: How open are my arms to God’s people seeking refuge?
PRAYER FOCUS: Refugees
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