NETWORK LIFE
January 11, 2023
Does God love foreigners? by Roland Clarke
The Torah says, “God loves the foreigner … and you are to love those who are foreigners.” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19, NIV) I was on the bus recently and noticed a family sitting nearby. I asked if they were going to ___ an area where I live. “Yes”, they replied in somewhat broken English. This was the beginning of a friendship with a newcomer family who arrived as refugees in Canada some weeks ago from a war-torn country in the Middle East.
Shortly after meeting Ahmed I gave several members of his family a ride to a 'free cycle' at our church which drew many people from the neighborhood. He and his wife and eldest son, Riad were delighted to find some furniture, winter coats and toys! I invited a couple young Christian men to the same event hoping that a friendship would be kindled and I wasn't disappointed. Ahmed invited all of us to come
inside for a cup of chai (tea) when we arrived back at their home. The following week Ahmed's two oldest boys were invited to a weekly indoor soccer event sponsored by the church which their new friends attend and now they enjoy soccer every week. They even attended a church potluck on Christmas day and the following day we all took them tobogganing for the first time ever. The kids had a whale of a time and are already asking “When can we go again?”
Seeing how God had opened a wonderful door of friendship with Ahmed's family I was curious to see how this story might unfold. Would our friendship grow and deepen or would religious/cultural differences become a stumbling block, putting a damper on our friendship?
December 23rd a severe snow storm hit our city making it very difficult for people to go shopping. I couldn't help thinking of Ahmed and wondering if his large family was coping with not being able to purchase groceries during the storm, also bearing in mind, all stores would close the following day, for Christmas. He gratefully accepted my offer to pick him up with his wife to get some groceries. Facing
this hardship together helped to deepen our bond of friendship. Moreover, I continued sowing seeds of kindness and friendship, for example, on a couple occasions I picked up some large pockets of potatoes for Ahmed's family at a cost of only $2 each!!
I've always admired Jesus because he showed love toward foreigners, i.e. Samaritans in John 4. However, he also spoke the truth (graciously & respectfully) whenever the opportunity presented itself. So I asked the Lord to show me how to be like Jesus in my friendship with Ahmed. How should I be “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, bold added) also bearing in mind, Jesus told the Samaritan woman, God is seeking “true worshipers [who] will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24, NIV, bold added)
After asking God for wisdom I decided to share with Ahmed and Riad a proverb of Solomon/Suleiman, who according to the Bible and the Qur'an, was given exceptional wisdom by God/Allah. Both of them expressed deep appreciation. Here's the note I sent...
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