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Ever since we receive the baptism to join the Church, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). In the gospel, we treat the Church as the Lord's house here on earth. Therefore, after we join the church, we are no longer foreigners, but of the household of God.
To those who have not yet joined the Church, under the earnest invitation and encouragement from missionaries, they finally show up at the Church with curiosity and bravery, expecting to meet enthusiastic and loving members to show them love and care coming from the teaching of the gospel and let them experience a warm and homey feeling. However, since leaders are busy about their callings and members, either feeling unattached or too busy talking to other members, tend to neglect this group of curious and expecting "strangers". Such kind of a cold greeting normally turns these enthusiastic visitors away, even to the point of losing their potential blessing of accepting the gospel.
As a member of the household of God, whether we have a calling or not, every one of us should be a competent host to all the new "guests" coming to visit us. We should sincerely welcome everyone to the house of the Lord and let him/her feel the love and warmth of the gospel. As a matter of fact, we should compare the chapel to the castle of the Calvary in the western movie. Every Sunday, after Sunday meetings, we leave the "castle" one by one into the wilderness full of snakes, wild animals, traps and Indians. After six days of worldly trials and tribulations, those who return with a smile on their faces are worth encouragement, a warm welcome and even a big hug from all of us. We should happily gather together to celebrate our survival and an opportunity to continue the journey towards the eternal life.
"…: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:32) Let us do what the baseball players do. When they come out of the locker room into the field, after the first member of the team gets to the head of the line, he will turn around and welcome the next player by giving him five or giving him a big hug. After all, in this great game of life and death, we should work closely with our team members. We have to learn to support, rely, and trust each other so we may endure to the end on this straight and narrow path.
"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." (Matthew 10:40) Although these words were spoken to the Gentiles, wouldn't they apply to us all? Let us all receiveth every soul, treasured by the Lord, who comes among us as if we were receiving our Father in Heaven. Let them experience, through our love and care, the Light of Christ and the warmth and peace in the House of the Lord. Eventually they may choose to join the household of God with happiness and joy. May we all receive the greatest reward of, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34) for "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)
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