Have Compassion

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, 23rd December 2022, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. If we start in the Gospel of Luke:

 “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7

Then we go straight to Hebrews 13:2:

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”  

Can you imagine the inn-keepers face when he got to Heaven and realised that he had put the Son of God in his garage for the night? He put Him in the stable with his donkeys, his milk cow and the chickens! The King of Kings was given a feed trough for His first night on earth. That was His cot, that was His sleeping place and you know something? It makes me want to cry. He was grateful and He never murmured a word of discontent. 

Many, many years ago when we first arrived on the farm, Shalom and had built our little wattle and daub house, a friend who was an evangelist, brought a man to our home. He said, “This man, I picked him up hitch-hiking, could you give him a place to stay?” I said, “Of course”. As new Christians, we were so honoured to put him up. He was a school teacher and he was hitch-hiking. We put him up in our little home, but what a blessing this man was to us. He taught our two little boys how to fish. He caught a huge bass, then prepared it and cooked it on an open fire with lemon and salt - What a delicious meal! He sat in the evenings and taught us Christian songs with his guitar, then he told us stories of faith that took our breath away. 

He told us how he took his class, one year and he said to them, “I am going to show you how the Lord undertakes if you trust Him by faith.” He took his whole class of children right around South Africa without taking one rand in his pocket, no money - by faith. I have never forgotten him, he was such a blessing to us. He also spoke over us and he told us what God was going to do with this place. Of course, we could hardly believe it. Do you know, every single word that he told us has come to pass? We want to thank the Lord for Piet Uys. I don’t know where you are Piet. The last time I heard, you were a missionary in Malawi - Jesus bless you!

Folks, today be careful when you turn somebody away, you might be turning away an angel. Have a heart of compassion and love this Christmas Season.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.