Stranger-Brother

Two days ago we were privileged to host a stranger from a far away land, a brother who was saved from a religious background, who had the burden to serve the Lord among his own community, untouched and unreachable, till date, but had to serve in an institution to make a living on humanitarian ground to feed his family of six. It was all a surprise visit; at the first meeting when he arrived at night with just a bag and shabbily dressed, my natural mind wondered in discernment, if I had the right discretion to host him or sent him back. But as we fellowshipped, things became much clearer, though I dare not say it was crystal clear. When in an exercised spirit the Lord reminded me of my responsibility to take care of him in all that I possibly could. With no second thought, dinner was gotten and bed made ready. It was a surprise visit, yet it truly was something of the Lord, time will reveal it in His appointed time.

This reminds me of Jehovah God visiting Abram in Genesis 18, and this was also my Bible reading portion yesterday, after the brother left. And this also is an answer to my prayer as I want to be more hospitable, so the Lord sent him? Till now, I could not still figure out how a strange whom I never met and not even knew, suddenly decided to come a 12 hours journey by bus in this cold winter and landed to my home in the night by faith. What if he could not contact us, or somehow missed the way, as he came for here for the first time? Viewing his side of the story, I really appreciate the faith he had in the Lord and in us, my brothers and me, though we never met before.

And as a brother and I went to see him off when eh decided to go back the next day after adequate fellowship, he was very frank to open up his real situation that he did not even have enough money to go back home even. To this, a little room was again given to "discernment" of his genuineness, but the Lord immediately reminded me that He has blessed me enough, and even more than what I really needed, so I must take care of the need of others. In fact, before this stranger-brother came, I had a fellowship with a brother concerning helping others financially- its pros and cons and the how, when and why. The conclusion we had was, according to the Lord's blessings and leading. So here's the time to practically exercise the truth and revelation the Lord has revealed. So, without any hesitation, the Lord's blessing was shared with this brother's urgent need. O what a sweet Christian brotherly fellowship! And what a grace to be able to share God's grace with the needy, especially my brothers in Christ.

This stranger-brother is no more a stranger. He is a dear brother in the Lord, and the Lord has sent him to fellowship with us for His purpose. The seed has been shown and one day, the Lord's blessings will be fully manifested in that part of the country where he belong. Though that may be a sensitive political zone as far as the country is concerned, but the Lord will have His testimony among the many chosen from that community in that land to be the "good land!"

Lord, thank You for the visitation of grace through a "stranger-brother."