We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
The "such" to be received are God's missionaries, brethren and strangers who go forth for His name's sake to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and take nothing from the Gentiles, including traveling evangelists and missionaries in every line of work among the churches where they labor. To receive them is to give them a kind reception and entertain them with faithful charity in church and home, making a home for them even at considerable personal sacrifice. Reception also means doing one's best to make the visit profitable to both guests and hosts, and bringing them forward on their journey in a godly manner. By so receiving and entertaining brethren for Christ's sake, believers become joint workers with them for the truth.
These strangers may not be influential men, yet self-superiority that treats them disrespectfully, hinders their reception, forbids others to receive them, and persecutes and casts out of the church those who do receive them is evil and must not be followed. Christ keeps an account of every expense incurred in entertaining for His sake and supplies all that is necessary for this work. Those who entertain in this way are recorded in heaven as worthy of special blessings.
A mother also becomes a fellow helper to the truth by receiving the truth herself and obeying it even when it is unpopular with the world, and by not neglecting the truth in her own life. She must not stand in the way of her children's salvation through a wrong example, but unite with her husband to exert a saving influence through instruction and worthy example. Her children are precious by the purchase of Christ's blood, and her aim is that they may be saved without fault in the day of God.
The "such" to be received are God's missionaries, brethren and strangers who go forth for His name's sake to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and take nothing from the Gentiles, including traveling evangelists and missionaries in every line of work among the churches where they labor. To receive them is to give them a kind reception and entertain them with faithful charity in church and home, making a home for them even at considerable personal sacrifice. Reception also means doing one's best to make the visit profitable to both guests and hosts, and bringing them forward on their journey in a godly manner. By so receiving and entertaining brethren for Christ's sake, believers become joint workers with them for the truth.
These strangers may not be influential men, yet self-superiority that treats them disrespectfully, hinders their reception, forbids others to receive them, and persecutes and casts out of the church those who do receive them is evil and must not be followed. Christ keeps an account of every expense incurred in entertaining for His sake and supplies all that is necessary for this work. Those who entertain in this way are recorded in heaven as worthy of special blessings.
A mother also becomes a fellow helper to the truth by receiving the truth herself and obeying it even when it is unpopular with the world, and by not neglecting the truth in her own life. She must not stand in the way of her children's salvation through a wrong example, but unite with her husband to exert a saving influence through instruction and worthy example. Her children are precious by the purchase of Christ's blood, and her aim is that they may be saved without fault in the day of God.