Foreigners In The Land

 THE RIGHT ATTITUDE ABOUT IMMIGRATION

(Leviticus 19:9-10, 33-34)

"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner resides among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the lord your God." (Leviticus 19:33-34)

There is no doubt that some people in Canada are border hoppers and are here illegally, so therefore yes, they have broken the law. But we need to look at the reasons behind why they have done so. Many of them feel they have no place to go to get away from the desperate situations they are running from. They are fleeing from abusive and war torn counties, literally running for their lives. What would I do if I was in that situation. 

We cannot know if these people are just seeking a better economic place to land or if they are true refugees of not. But it seems according to scriptures it would be un-Christian, to tell them "I don't care if you are hungry and running for your lives, you are breaking the law if you enter our country illegally so you need to find somewhere else to land. 

After all at the moment in Canada we are not over populated, we have much land that is not inhabited by people. I have been to Rwanda, it is over populated, 13,900 000,000 on a very small piece of land in comparison to just one of our provinces here in Canada. I cannot picture Jesus telling these people who are running for their lives your not welcome here. But thats only the border issue. What about those who are already in country, How are we treating them?

The message I get from scripture is this, that God's people should be accepting, taking people in, being hospitable to them, protecting them looking out for and helping them in whatever way we can. As I read my bible there are many places through out scripture where it tell me that Gods people are reminded that they too were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. So God reminds them, so they would remember to treat other right and not foprget how they wanted to be treat in their 400 plus years in a foreign country. 

We as foreigners and sojourners in this world, being now citizens of heaven we are strangers, aliens, in this world. (1 Peter 2:9-12) That is if we have given our lives to Christ and are follow ing Him as we should. Not hiding our light under a basket. We have a goal to strive for and that heaven. A city not made by hands of man, but created and made by the very hands of God. 

Another very common occurrence in the bible is to love your neighbour as yourself following the statement to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind. This was mentioned in Leviticus and in Deuteronomy , and then when Jesus came along He added more to it, in saying we were to love our enemies as well. If you take this all in a foreigner would be included in this. 

God in His love and mercy, rescued the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt, because He loved them , just as He has rescued us from the land of sin and sadness through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. Through His life among us, brutally kill of the cruel tree on Calvary, was buried in a tomb, but three days later arose from the dead, walked again among men, and then ascended into heaven to go and prepare a place for us, once again rescuing us, when we are called home to be with Him. 

Friends I believe God, is the same yesterday, today and forever, I think He still feels the same about those who are foreigners in a strange land. Are we willing to follow Gods guidance when we find ourselves in this situation today. We all have foreigners in our midst. Are we willing to extent grace and mercy to them, that God has extended to us, in saving us from our sin. 

So my take on this from scripture is that we as christians, owe our commitment to God and His kingdom,. To show our allegiance to the scriptures. Which are full of what God is saying to us. We need to follow His lead in treating these people coming int oour land with love, grace and respect. Because this is the heart of God towards all people. And God wants us to love and protect the foreigner in our midst. 

So my Christian friends, God has set the standard, I pray that He will soften our hearts and bless our hearts to show love to the strangers among us. Ask yourself this, how can I help those in our church, in our community in our neighbourhood from other countries who speak another tongue, feel at home here.  

PRAY - Dear God, Heavenly Father, please help me have your heart when it comes to this situation, help me think and do, to have a proper attitude and give me a heart h=that will welcome the stranger and foreigner into my community and into my home. Lord thank you for the love you have given me, the least I can do is return the favour to others who come into my world. In your name I pray  AMEN