Welcome - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 14

Welcome
By Meg Bucher

“I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.” John 13:20 NLT

Late in the season, the lake was calm, and the sun was about to set. As we pulled out of the marina to head back home, my dad nudged my youngest daughter to greet the people we passed on the way out. “OH-“ she shouted. “IO!” They yelled back. And then, my youngest saw an opportunity she could not pass up …

“GO BLUE!” She yelled back! 

Always the one to create laughter that brings us to tears, she couldn’t help but voice her allegiance. Greetings go beyond welcoming others into the spaces we occupy. They can identify us and create a sense of camaraderie. More than just good manners, a warm greeting can make us feel welcome and accepted.

Jesus had just finished washing His disciples' feet. The apostle John recorded the scene: 

“After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, ‘Do you understand what I was doing?” John 13:12 NLT

He wanted to make sure they understood the meaning behind what He was doing. Jesus was intentional about what He did and the words He spoke during His ministry on earth. The disciples in the room with Him would go out into the world to spread the good news of the gospel and form the early church. Anyone who would welcome them would be welcoming Jesus and the Father who sent Him. 

Intersecting Faith and Life

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NLT

Jesus consistently showed His disciples, and left an example for us today, of what it means to live in service of others and not just to be served. When we are welcomed in the name of Jesus and welcome others in the name of Jesus, we are living and loving the way He was instructing the disciples after He washed His feet.

Selflessness is a rarity in this world. When we take the time to catch up with someone in the grocery store aisle, even though it’s costing us precious time we allocated elsewhere, we are living out the way of welcoming others Jesus modeled for us. And we’re allowing God to move in those moments. 

There are many moments littering our days we could choose to serve instead of being served. To really welcome someone in instead of rushing by with a wave of recognition. There are hurting people sitting in the pews on Sundays when we plop down with our coffee, just glad to have arrived on time. By looking around at the people God places in our lives, we find all kinds of opportunities to live the full life Jesus died to give us. 

The freedom we find in serving others blesses us. The time “lost” is well spent. Let’s challenge ourselves to find moments littered into the layers of our days to welcome the people God places in our paths. We may not be called to wash their actual feet, but God is faithful to sprinkle our days with opportunities to serve the people He has purposefully placed in our lives. When we have a welcoming and accepting spirit, willing to operate on God’s timetable, we welcome the Father’s presence into our lives as well. 

Father,
Help us to be aware of the foot-washing moments You are faithful to place in our lives. Let our hearts be soft and our minds be focused and clear when we are interacting with others. Place a welcoming, accepting, servant-hearted spirit in us, Father. Let the love of Jesus shine through our lives, Lord. 

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen. 

Further Reading

• Philippians 2:4
• Galatians 5:13
• 1 Samuel 12:24

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/belchonock

Meg is a graduate of Ashland University. She is a writer, author, editor, and digital content creator. She stepped away from her job in Internet Marketing in 2008 to raise her daughters, which gave her passion for writing a chance to shine through her blog, Sunny&80… Life within the Love of Christ. Meg has served as a Children’s Worship Team Leader and Middle School Leader for her local church. She founded and led the Breakfast Club Bible Study for Tweens, has served as a Young Life Leader and Committee Member, and led Women’s Bible Study. She has also volunteered as a content creator for her local church, studied Bible/Ministerial Training through Global University, and completed COMPEL PRO Writers Training. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the team at Salem Web Network. You can find her entire library of books on her Amazon Author Page. 

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!