The other day, we talked about Jesus emphasizing the significance of caring for strangers. I decided to think about moments where people took care of strangers. I mean, other than Jesus suggesting that he would be waiting with the stranger.

For example, Jesus talked about a man beaten and left for dead. Another man stopped and bandaged him and took him to a safe place. We know the story as “the good Samaritan”. It’s a conversation about who my neighbor is and establishes that my neighbor may be someone who differs from me on the most fundamental questions. (I wrote about caring in relation to this story a few years back.)

Whoever wrote the book we know as Hebrews said,

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Paul and some colleagues went to the Roman colony of Philippi. Because there wasn’t a synagogue, they went to the prayer meeting that happened outside town by the river. A woman of means was there, heard the message of Jesus, responded positively, and then told them to come and stay with her.

So we read that caring for strangers looks like caring for people who are abandoned and in deep need. It looks like showing hospitality. It looks like offering a safe place for people who are from out of town.

It is rooted in living our lives like Jesus would live our lives if he were us, as Dallas Willard said.