“11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days.

And so we came to Rome. 15 Now the believers from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.”

Acts 28:11-16

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What a relief to be done with sailing! Enough difficulties had happened, enough hardship had been experienced that the prospect of going to Rome, even under arrest, must have felt like a God-send. But on top of the relief of finally being on Italian soil was the fact that these small, precious groups of people were driven by love and hospitality to come meet up with Luke & Paul, not even knowing them personally, but ready to greet them and care for them as if they were long-returning family members. What a comfort to the heart, what a joy for their spirits!

As Christians, we don’t need to have a blood connection with someone in order for them to be family. We don’t have to have a history with someone in order for them to be our friends. If we share Christ in common, then we have everything we need to pick up and begin our relationships. Every first time meeting can be like a family reunion, thanks to what we share in Christ. 

To the world, that’s going to sound far-fetched, but it is reality for a Christ-follower. 

We should be the first to exhibit hospitality, the first to help those who suffer. We should be first on the mark when the time comes to walk through something difficult with someone. What we share in Christ gives us more than enough reason to rally around each other, to share burdens and joys alike, and to be a support for absolutely anyone that has been washed in the blood of the Lamb. 

Paul’s previous reputation (as Saul) did not matter here. The fact that he was under arrest did not deter them. They simply saw him as a brother in Christ who needed to be loved, and so they answered the call to GoLove him in Jesus’ Name. Luke, as his doctor, friend & as a fellow believer in Christ, was also treated with equal love, care and concern. The lack of aprevious relationship on anyone’s part simply did not matter. Within the church, it isn’t a matter of ‘What can you do for me?’ but rather a matter of ‘What has Christ Jesus already done & how can I imitate Him?’ 

We don’t serve looking to be served in return. We serve because He first served us. We love for the same reason, and we simply don’t look for how we benefit from the exchange. To live as Christ means to put others first, and to receive them as we would receive Christ. There shouldn’t be such a thing as an unfriendly church, there shouldn’t be such a thing as animosity between belivers. We love because Christ first loved us, and His brand of love is joyfully & sacrificially given.