HOSPITALITY

Hebrews 13:2
Don't forget to show
hospitality to strangers,
for some who have done this
have entertained angels
without realizing it!



The celebrated Parisian artist, Ary Scheffer, wanted to paint a portrait of a beggar. His friend, the Baron Rothschild, the famed banker and one of the day's world's richest men volunteered to be the model saying, "Wait 'til tomorrow and I will dress myself up as a beggar, and make you an excellent model.” He indeed came back the next day dressed as a beggar, and a very poor looking one at that. While Scheffer was painting the beggar's portrait, a visitor came into his studio and was touched by the pitiful appearance of Rothschild's beggar. The visitor reached into his pocket to give the ultra-wealthy model a gold coin. Ten years later, the Baron located and wrote to the person who gave him that gold coin writing, "Sir, you one day gave a gold coin to Baron Rothschild in the studio of Ary Scheffer. He has invested it, and made good use of it. Today he sends the capital you entrusted to him, together with the interest it has gained to the tune of ten thousand francs." In the spirit of Hebrews 13:2, it's quite obvious that we can never know who among us is an angel or messenger from God. That said, be mindful to show kindness and hospitality to strangers because the person before you might be an angel entertained, a lost soul in need of Christ or even a fellow Christian looking for encouragement. In any event, your good and hospitable behavior (or worse yet, your poor and inhospitable behavior) just might have a long-term effect.