Matthew 10:40-42 

Hospitality. Welcome. Grace.

On Christmas Eve some ten years ago, I read one of the daily devotions I get through my email account. I will confess, on Christmas Eve, I decided to go for the SHORT devotion with so much to get done that day! The devotion that day focused on Hebrews 12:15, ^“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God.” I read that passage two, three, four times, and each time I read it, the more it struck me – ^“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God.” 

This passage challenged me on Christmas Eve. With hundreds of people coming through the door – many who haven’t been in church for a while or possibly that person that I don’t see eye to eye with on some things – I could give them a “what for” or make some snide remark (you know we have church every week). But for ALL of these people, as well as the faithful regulars at my church, “see to it that NO ONE fails to obtain the grace of God.” 

Is that my responsibility? I thought God is the giver of grace. Do I ever stand in God’s way? Do I refuse to share that message of grace, because I feel the recipient will not cherish it as it should be cherished? Do you ever withhold a gift, because you feel the recipient is unworthy of the gift?

My mind was spinning. I was challenged by these words. And through it, I have come to realize that this is what I am called to do as a pastor: “see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God.” God gives the gift. I, and all of us as the church, are called to share it. How it is received by others is not for us to judge. 

I came to Christmas Eve with a different perspective – to see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God. 

It became my new year’s resolution. To this day, it is included in every email I send. 

Hospitality. Welcoming one another as we have been welcomed. Grace.

Let us pray: