Our best opportunity for reaching out with the gospel of Jesus happens every time we assemble. There is almost always someone here from the community and they are paying us a great compliment when they come among us.

In the world, people we don’t know are strangers to us. But this must not be true when we get together as the Lord’s people. I am convinced that out heavenly Father doesn’t want us to let anyone remain a stranger in our assemblies.

What a wonderful thought that every visitor to our assemblies would immediately be met with outstretched hands and smiles...starting in the parking lot! As God’s children, we should always have the idea that a “stranger” is just a friend (and potential brother in Christ) that we have not yet met.

I can’t go past very many bodies of water without yearning to “put a line in”. Fishing is one of life’s great pleasures. And what a pleasure it is to “fish for men” right here in the clear fresh waters of the Lord’s church. Isn’t that what our Lord would do?

Courage. It is a scary thing for some of us to think about greeting someone we don’t know. Each of us, however, was once a stranger. With love, God put His hand out, embraced us, and made us a part of His family. What a great opportunitie we have to respond with the same divine warmth and love to those who assemble with us to worship and study.