他們從戰亂的祖國來到這個新的國家，一切都感覺截然不同，新的語言、學校、風俗、交通與天氣，這對夫婦不知道自己到底能不能適應。附近一間教會的會友們陪伴在他們身邊，幫助他們在這片陌生的土地上展開新生活。佩蒂帶著這對夫妻到菜市場購物，讓他們看看有哪些食品，以及如何購買各種產品。在逛菜市場時，這對夫婦看到他們在家鄉最喜愛的水果紅石榴，眼睛登時發亮，開心極了。他們給家裡每個小孩都買了一顆，還放一顆在佩蒂手中以表示感謝。小小的水果與新的朋友，讓他們在這片陌生的土地上得到極大的安慰。

上帝藉著摩西向以色列百姓頒布了一套律法，其中包括一條誡命，就是要對待他們當中的外地人「如本地人一樣」，而且上帝還命令他們「要愛他如己」（利未記19章34節）。耶穌將此稱為第二大誡命，居於愛上帝之後（馬太福音22章39節），因為上帝也「保護寄居的」（詩篇146篇9節）。

當我們幫助新朋友適應在我們國家的新生活時，除了是順服上帝之外，也是提醒自己，其實我們也同樣「在世上是客旅，是寄居的」（希伯來書11章13節），這會令我們更加期盼那將來臨的新天新地。

Everything felt drastically different in their new country—new language, schools, customs, traffic, and weather. They wondered how they would ever adjust. People from a nearby church gathered around them to help them in their new life in a new land. Patti took the couple shopping at a local food market to show them what’s available and how to purchase items. As they wandered around the market, their eyes widened and they smiled broadly when they saw their favorite fruit from their homeland—pomegranates. They bought one for each of their children and even placed one in Patti’s hands in gratefulness. The small fruit and new friends brought big comfort in their strange, new land.

God, through Moses, gave a list of laws for His people, which included a command to treat foreigners among them “as your native-born” (Leviticus 19:34). “Love them as yourself,” God further commanded. Jesus called this the second greatest commandment after loving God (Matthew 22:39). For even God “watches over the foreigner” (Psalm 146:9).

Besides obeying God as we help new friends adapt to life in our country, we may be reminded that we too in a real sense are “strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). And we’ll grow in our anticipation of the new heavenly land to come.