Welcoming
Last year I took a trip to see family. Typically the days before heading out of town beyond busy. Between packing bags and finishing work there is barely time to catch my breath! This trip was no different. I was beyond tired after days of rushing around well past bedtime, rising early, and enduring a long flight. Turning the corner into the guest room at my sister's house, I was greeted by four happy faces and a wall plastered with signs welcoming me into their home.
In anticipation of my arrival, my niece and nephews spent hours creating the signs. The handmade drawings were more scribble than art. Imperfect and crooked, yet just right and beautiful all the same. They stood in the room in filled with excitement, wanting to see firsthand the look on my face as I caught sight of the wall. Their joyful faces paired with the custom artwork made it easy to set aside the tiredness I felt. With their welcome, my breath softened and my body eased quickly into the refreshing pace of vacation.
Power of Welcome
A welcome holds a lot of power. All of us, no matter how our day is going, bear scrapes and wounds from life. Some subtle like worn bodies tired from a hard day’s work or hearts longing for a friend in an unfamiliar place. Some more profound like minds fleeing hurt, bodies fighting danger, or hearts mourning a loss.
Given well, the receiver feels loved and known. Now family, they kick off their shoes and sink into the porch swing. The feel the safety of your arms surrounding them and breath lighter with each word you speak. The welcome often goes unnoticed in the seamlessness of its’ sincerity. The receiver leaves refreshed, with a desire to come back again. Given poorly, the receiver feels neglected and forgotten. Like a stranger in a foreign land, they bow their heads and back away. The feel the shun of being in the way and breath heavier as they rush to leave before they stick their foot in their mouth when speaking.
A good welcome does much for the soul. It offers refuge in battle and settles us into a place of rest.
After Moses died, the people of Israel needed both protection and rest as they prepared to take the land God promised to give them. To fulfill His promise, God used a quick thinking-God fearing foreigner to give His people His rest and protection as they moved to take possession of Jericho.
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. — Joshua 2:4-6
As the people of Israel prepared for battle against Jericho, Rahab welcomes two spies into her home. As a local prostitute, she could easily say what others wanted to hear to ensure her doors stayed open. She thought quick on her feet and was accustomed to inviting men into her home late into the night as part of her profession.
But this welcome was different. Rahab treats the spies as brothers rather then customers.
In her welcome, she offers the spies a place to rest without a business agenda. She hides the spies from Jericho's soldiers. She chooses to give them not just the protection of cover on her roof, but also protection from enemy attack. Using her talents of telling men what they want to hear, Rahab sends Jericho’s soldiers on a wild goose chase for the spies. Reflecting God’s kindness, she gives them a place to lie and rest their weary feet before racing back to their army. She provides a safe exit out of town and sends them to their next destination unharmed.
By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
— Hebrews 11:31
IMPERFECT WELCOME
Rahab was not perfect as she welcomed. She was a Canaanite. She lied when the enemy knocked on the door. She worked as a prostitute and her home was her brothel. But she believed the story of God. Rahab believed in His power and invited the spies into her home. She provided rest for their tired feet and helped them find a safe exit out of town. She believed in His love and boldly asked for favor. In response, her home became a place of refuge during the battle for Jericho.
Because of the way Rahab welcomed, her home was a place of rest and refuge for her newfound brothers, Her Family, and herself.
Rahab welcomed as she obediently opened the door and took her guests in as the enemy approached. She kindly hid them on her roof as the enemy arrived. Then, she deepened her welcome by sincerely talking with her guests about their shared faith after the enemy left. Now her brothers in faith, they left wanting to come back and see their sister again. They said they would— and ensured they could— by promising to keep Rahab and her family safe from death when the whole army returned to take possession Jericho.
Her friendly welcome continued beyond this conversation of shared faith. Instead of leaving her brothers fending for themselves on their way back home, Rahab safely led them through her window when the time was right. She also hung a red flag on her window making it easy for them to find her home when they came back to the city God promised them.
With discernment, Rahab identifies family and foe.
With kindness, she gives the spies rest and treats them as family.
With wisdom, she sends the soldiers of Jericho outside a locked gate so her brothers could safely leave town in the opposite direction.
With faith, she boldly asks for her family to be spared from death in battle.
With Love, she got to help God fulfill his promise to Israel.
WELCOMING SAVES
Because of Rahab's faith-filled welcome, the lives of the spies were spared. Her life was saved and she was gifted the legacy of holding a place in the birthline of Jesus. Her family in God was saved from death and able to fulfill the battle plan God set before them. Her family of origin was saved from death and saw God's promise in action.
The welcome we share with our neighbors and family can carry the same life saving weight as Rahab's welcome. It can offer protection from eating a meal in isolation. It can invite joy into a chaotic moment. It can give an encouraging nudge to stay the course after a tiring day. It can provide a place to rest and celebrate a week gone well. With the simplest of gestures, our welcoming can save a life too!
Here are some ways we can welcome welL:
Open the door. Being available when the doorbell rings is the first step in welcoming neighbors into your home and out of the storms they are facing in life. When they come, invite them in and offer comfort. Give a hug, offer a chair to rest in, provide a cup to drink from. Listen to their stories and don’t forget to share a story about a common interest as it comes up in conversation!
Tidy Up. Home is made up of knowing your space and knowing your people. We can be prepared for our guests by balancing a home well lived in with one that is tidy. Tidy does not mean spotless. It simply means our possessions have a place to belong where they don’t distract us away from our relationships with people. We know where the clean cups are while our half full coffee mug sits on the table. Unkept leaves guests standing lonely as we scurry to clear a space for them to rest. Spotless leaves guests hesitant to sit down afraid they may stain a pillow. Both minimize the availability we have for knowing their stories…and stories are what make a house a home!
Walk together to the next destination. The family that goes together stays together. Coming alongside another and walking together gives us an opportunity to take them to a place of rest with our feet and our conversation. Join your sibling in completing a yard project together. Help your child caring in their book bag and sports equipment. Sit with your parents as they prepare dinner. Take a drive with your cousin to run errands. Go on vacation with a friend. Remember, family includes those who currently live in your home as well as who will live with you in the home God has prepared for us in heaven.
Circle Back. We often get pulled into tasks mid conversation while we work. It is important to do our jobs and do them well. But when we finish the job at hand, be intentional. Return to finish the conversation. Circling back to a coworker reminds them they are valued and known by you. The pause of work in the middle may be exactly what God wanted to provide wisdom on what still needs to be said! Taking time to see a story to completion is a great way to show others we truly love them.
Leave the light on. God uses us and our homes to provide a place for our friends to pause from the battles they during their week. Rahab hung a red flag on her window to help Joshua’s army find her in battle. We can do the same at our homes to make it easy for our friends to find us anytime. Be light physically: Leave your porch lights on, paint your door, have frozen cookies ready to bake, or invest in outdoor furniture for your front yard. Then, be light relationally: Text a friend to come over for dinner, Give them a key and encourage it’s use, Call them during the commute home and meet up. Do whatever you can to build a safe haven for your friends to come into.
