Scripture of the Day
"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." — Romans 15:7 ESV
Reflection
In the Book of Acts, Barnabas was from Cyprus — a geographical outsider in a world where proximity to Jerusalem meant proximity to power. He was a Jew of the Diaspora, living far from the center of Jewish religious life. He knew what it felt like to be from the margins.
And he never forgot it.
That personal experience of being an outsider shaped the way Barnabas moved through the world. When Saul came to Jerusalem and everyone else wanted to keep the door shut, Barnabas opened it. When Gentiles came to faith in Antioch and the Jewish church wasn't sure what to make of them, they sent Barnabas — because they knew he had a track record of caring for the underdog.
The grace that welcomed you in is not meant to stop with you. It's meant to flow through you to the next person standing outside the door.
Think about who welcomed you. Think about the person who saw something in you before you could see it yourself — who opened a door, extended a hand, made space for you at the table. You are here today, in part, because of someone like that.
Now look around. Who is standing where you once stood?
Question for Personal Reflection
Who in your life right now is on the outside — feeling unseen, unwelcome, or written off? What would it look like to be the person who opens the door for them?
Action Step
Identify one person in your community, workplace, or church who seems isolated or on the margins. Make a specific, intentional effort to include them this week.
Prayer
Father, thank You for welcoming me in when I had nothing to offer. Give me eyes to see the people around me who are still standing on the outside. Give me Barnabas' courage and warmth to open the door and say, "There is room for you here." Let Your welcome flow through me today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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