You are welcomed! Doesn’t that have a such a nice sound to it? It makes me feel warm inside. Like eating a bowl of chili or a cup of hot tea, cider or cocoa on a brisk fall afternoon.
You are welcomed is another identity in Christ attribute. Some of the other identity attributes that we have talked about over the past couple of months can be found here: adopted, chosen, blessed, sealed, etc.
What does it mean to be welcomed?
When a person is welcomed somewhere, they are greeted warmly and in a polite or friendly way.
Or a person is glad to entertain people or receive something like welcome gifts for a baby, home, new job, etc.
Welcome baby
When friends or a family member have a baby, a baby is welcomed into the family. they are now part of the family and a welcome gift may be given. The gift is usually given to help the person out as babies usually need lots of care and the dollars to care for them adds up.
A couple in our church had a new baby last week and everyone was welcoming the little one to world by stopping by their pew and congratulating them. New babies are such a blessing to a family and those around them. They are so snuggly to hold as well. 🙂
We have a new grand baby coming next month so we are excited to welcome him to the family!
Welcome home
When a person gets a new home, people give them housewarming gifts. Much like the cost of having a new baby, the cost of new house and all the expenses that come with it, a house warming gift is fun to receive.
When you visit a person’s house, it is common to get a tour of the house. Even in the Bible, King Hezekiah, who was the king of Judah, at age 25 and reigned for 29 years (2 Kings 18) had visitors at his palace and showed them around.
Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them around. He showed them more than the palace. He showed them the treasure house, spices, armory, and what was in the storehouses.
There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. Isaiah 39:2 ESV
Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, opened her home and welcomed Jesus there.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. Luke 10:38 ESV
Rahab helped Joshua and the spies that were sent into the land to see what to expect as they crossed the Jordan into the promised land God had given them. She saw the faith that they had and had heard what God had done for the people as they crossed through the Red Sea and fought against the two kings of the Amorites (Joshua 2:8-10 ESV). So she welcomed them into her home and gave them shelter.
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Hebrews 11:31 ESV
Welcome to the new job
While I don’t have a specific verse about this from the Bible, sometimes employers will welcome their employees to a new job. When I changed departments, I didn’t get a specific welcome gift as I had been with the company almost 20 years.
However, my boss put an 8.5 x 11 picture up in my cube that said, “you are loved.” It was very sweet of her and I definitely felt welcomed into the department. You are loved is one of our identity attributes in Christ as well.
Welcome to church
When people visit churches, sometimes there is a gift for visiting. I had visited my daughter’s church a couple of times when I have been at their house. Since their church has a coffee shop, you can get a tall coffee mug and a punch card for free drinks. It was such a nice gift since I like coffee!
However, what is better than a gift is a welcoming attitude. When we have new visitors to our church, one of the things they say about it is the friendliness of the people. No one wants to go to a church with a bunch of grumpy Christians.
Paul even told the Christians in Rome to not judge their fellow Christians because they held a different opinions about eating the food. If God welcomed them, then they should too.
Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Romans 14:3 ESV
You are Welcomed by Christ
I talked about all the ways we welcome people to a home, church, job, and a baby to the family. But how is being welcomed by Christ an attribute of our identity in Christ?
When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are welcomed into the family of God. You can read more on that from this post, Called Children of God.
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7 ESV
Christ welcomes us to His family for all of eternity. We are identified as Christians because we belong to Him. See more about that here in this Identity in Christ meaning post.
This verse in Romans starts with ‘therefore’ so you have to see why it’s there for and look back at the context.
Paul is talking about us being the example of Christ to others. We should help them out, don’t please ourselves, and build up your neighbors. Living in harmony or peace with others around us is what we should be doing.
We should welcome them as Christ welcomed us.
Jesus said we should welcome others
Paul was shipwrecked at sea while they were sailing to Rome. They ended up running the ship aground, on the beach of the island called Malta. The people were so kind that they welcomed them and started a fire for them. What a way to welcome people to your island!
The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. Acts 28:2 ESV.
Who loves a good campfire? I know I do! A couple of weeks ago we were at my daughter’s house. And we were having a campfire in the backyard with the grandkids. The neighbor kids were walking by to go for a walk. We offered them to stop by and enjoy some s’mores when they returned from their walk.
Yum! Chocolate, marshmallows, and the warmth of a fire is so welcoming.
Jesus said that anyone who feeds a person who is hungry or thirsty, we are essentially welcoming Him by doing that.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35 ESV
Jesus welcomed you. How are you welcoming others in your every day life?
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You are Welcomed Reflection Thoughts
- When are some times that you have been welcomed? What did they do that meant so much to you?
- How are you welcoming others in your every day life? What can you do today welcome others to your neighborhood, your family, your church, etc.?
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Word Bible Study Worksheet
Would you like to spend more time understanding words that you read in the Bible as you study? This Word Bible study worksheet is yours for free. You can download it here. And this post explains How to do a Word Bible study. Check it out! Don’t worry if you can’t complete it in a day. Take it a few bites at a time. Just like you are enjoying that yummy s’more around your campfire!
Resource Library
A busy working woman can print these Bible verse cards from the Resource Library to memorize on the go or post them near your home office desk!
