It was Christmas Day. I was in Kathmandu 10,000 kilometers from home. I knew no one. I didn’t understand the language everyone was speaking around me. The food, the gestures, the smells were all new and strange to me. Yet I clapped along to the songs, in which I understood only one word, with a sense of belonging. The word was Yesu – Jesus. Because of Jesus these strangers were also my brothers and sisters. They welcomed me. They shared their Christmas lunch with me. They invited me back to their homes with warm smiles and enthusiasm.

When you are far from home or feeling alone, when you are feeling abandoned by loved ones, isolated or rejected, a warm welcome by someone, even a stranger can be everything.

Have you ever thought of God as welcoming? The Bible is rich with the theme of God welcoming the sojourner, the outcast, the downcast and the poor. In fact the good news of Jesus Christ is that everyone who trusts Him receives a warm and enthusiastic welcome into God’s eternal kingdom.

“You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1:10-11

This kingdom is the most beautiful and wonderful destination you could ever travel to. In fact it is quite literally perfect. In this eternal kingdom there is no loneliness, no divisions, no painful separations, no aging, no hunger, no frustration, no sickness and no tears. You are warmly welcomed regardless of what language you speak, the job you do or do not have, the politics you follow, your age, your diet, your marital status, your music preferences or the number of children you have. The one thing that everyone in this kingdom has in common is faith in Jesus.

So turn to Jesus today, ask for forgiveness for not trusting and loving Him in the past and be warmly welcomed into His perfect kingdom. And for those of us who have already been welcomed by our loving God, remember why we have been welcomed and let us show that same welcome to others.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank you for welcoming sinners like me into your Kingdom. Help me to be welcoming of others as they come to hear the good news of Jesus.

Acknowledgement: This article was sourced from Outreach Media, Sydney, Australia.
Images and text © Outreach Media 2022