We see God’s attitude towards strangers most clearly when we look at what He has done for each of us. Jesus left His home in heaven to become a stranger on earth.

In fact, soon after Jesus was born, Joseph was commanded to take his family, flee the persecution in their home country and find refuge in Egypt. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were political refugees, seeking safety from persecution in their homeland. Even as an adult Jesus said He had “no place to lay His head” (Luke 9:58). What does that mean? It’s not just that Jesus was homeless, a refugee and a stranger in this world. He didn’t fit in anywhere! Society rejected Jesus, but at the same time, He never sought to align Himself with the culture and expectations of the people around Him. As a stranger on earth, His focus was on His real home in heaven. In many ways He wanted to be ‘out of place’ here, because that made it clear He was heading for a far better home; one that welcomes people of all cultures, backgrounds, wealth, health and needs.

What does that mean for us?

The Bible says that we were all “separate” from God and “foreigners” to Him (Eph. 2:12) when Jesus died for us on the cross to pay for our mistakes and wrongs. Even though we were strangers to God, He gave up His Son to make us His family again. This is our incredible example of what God’s love looks like towards strangers, and what we should be imitating. God didn’t shy away from strangers and hide Himself. Nor did He judge us for living self-centred lives (which is what we deserve). Instead, He became a stranger, took on that judgement for us and offered new life. We are now God’s children and heirs of His kingdom (Gal. 3:26-29)! Our entire identity has changed to match that of Jesus. From being strangers to God, we are now strangers to this world, just as He was before us.

In the same way that Abraham left his home country and followed God’s leading to a new land, our cultural identity and social standing are no longer what defines us. We have left them behind and now belong to God. We are heading for our new home with Him in heaven.

Just as Israel did, so we also know what it means to be foreigners! Our home is no longer the country we were born in. As Paul wrote to the church in Philippi: “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). Our home is with God, by His side in heaven. If we know what it is to be away from home, we also know what it is to be longing for a safe place.

We have much more in common with today’s strangers than first meets the eye. Like the homeless, we know what it is to be an outcast; like the refugee, we know what it is to feel the pain of being separated from our home; like the poor, we know what it is to be looked down on. Many of the strangers around us are hurting and lonely. We should be opening our lives to them so they can see the life, welcome and home that God offers!