‘He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, in giving him food and clothing. Love you therefore the stranger: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt’ ‘Never mistreat or oppress foreigners’
“Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
The LORD preserves the strangers; he relieves the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
(Ex 22:21; Deut 10:18, 19; 27:19’ Ps 146:9)

The definition of xenophobia is this: deep rooted fear and irrational hatred of foreigners. The origin of these negative emotions can be past wounds from foreigners or listening to political propaganda about ‘national purity’. Racism, tribalism, these are branches of it. People hate foreigners because they fear losing control on their culture or national identity.
Why should we be interested in the lives of foreigners, people who look different than us, speak another language or with an accent, dress differently or have another color of skin? Why should we love, accommodate, help or pray for them?
The first reason is because God loves them! Jehovah God is the friend of the foreigners. Jesus said that the way we treat foreigners is the way we treat Him (Mt 25). A place in heaven or in hell, rewards and punishments shall be awarded to religious people based on their acceptance or rejection of foreigners. (Mt 25:35. 43)
The second reason why we should love foreigners is because we know how it feels to be one. All sinners are foreigners to the Kingdom of God, without hope and without God in the world. Jesus died to bring the foreigners like me and you into His Father’s House, to receive the full rights as sons (Eph 2:12, 13)
Did you forget what it was before you made peace with God? Don’t you remember the feeling of being outside and knocking to come in…? It is not easy to live in a land different than your native country. It is not easy to be an immigrant, a permanent guest and never a citizen. It is not easy to be ‘a second class person’, to accept injustice daily because you are different than the majority of the people. It is not easy to live alone, for all others fear your person. Anyone taking advantage of a foreigner, who oppresses and forces him to be in a position against his will, that person is cursed by God. He can never have peace on earth!
This is the promise of God: He is their provider for all the basic things of life for foreigners
*Food- in Hebrew it means bread, fruits; it also means victory over his enemy and the power to take over his property!
*Clothes- it means physical clothes but also favor and salvation!
*Protection- There is a fence of thorns around the foreigner! Anyone who tries to break into his house shall be wounded!
*Relief, preservation- in times of trouble there is a double strength to endure until there is promotion!
*Victory over his enemies- the people who hate foreigners shall be frustrated, their lives shall be upside down, full of disappointments, their paths unstable and slippery ending in ruin. God overturns their plans; defeats their schemes; makes their purposes accomplish what they did not intend they should accomplish. They shall not do all the wickedness they wish; they shall not do all that is in their power. In their career God will stop them, turn them aside, or overturn them!

MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY
I was born in Romania. I live in Nigeria since March 1980. I did not choose to live ‘abroad’ but it was God’s will for me. I know how it feels to be a foreigner. I know the fear, the insecurity, the loneliness, the proud stares and the discrimination…
Yet, the grace of God is my Portion. The Word of God is my Food, my Medicine and my Defense. The promises of God are my Hope. The anointing of the Spirit is my Covering. The Body of Christ is my Home. The ministry is my Business! Prayer is my Joy!
The Lord has brought me to His Holy Mountain and gave me an extraordinary capacity to experience pure Joy in His House of prayer and worship. He has accepted my offerings of praise on His altar. The Door of His house have been widely opened to me, a poor sinner saved my grace. His House is a House of prayer for me and my children, the remnant of grace! We are gathered to freely worship the King of heaven! His presence connects us with Believers from all the nations and tribes from all over the world. There is no Jew, nor Greek, no male and no female, no slave or master, no white or black, no rich or poor, no educated or illiterate, but we are all one before the Throne, and of the Lamb who was slain that we may live (Gal 3:26-29).
I am a witness to this amazing grace (Is 56:1-8)
‘O… Come, Let us adore Him….Christ the Lord!’