(The following is the June 3 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 21 and pay close attention to verses 1-8.)

When you travel, do you attempt to locate and spend time with fellow Christians? First-century believers frequently connected with other believers as they traveled. Some reasons may include having a safe place to stay, using those connections to build up the church, or gathering information from local believers to help in their ministry. They may have been training leaders who could oversee the church’s work after they left, establishing credibility with the community through affiliation with existing community members.

Does the same happen in modern times? That depends on the culture and personal preferences, but the opportunity exists. If you travel for business or pleasure, how might your trips change in meaningfulness if you seek out fellow Christians to share a meal with or worship at a church? What opportunities for mutual encouragement might exist? There is value in the accountability that comes from spending time with Christians while away from home compared to the temptations to stray in a city where no one knows you.

When my wife and I lived in a big city and had a larger home than we have at present, we used the guest space to host travelers who found us on short-term rental websites. They stayed with us from a few days to a month or longer. What a joy it was when those staying with us were fellow Christians. Some of these relationships have continued years after their visit, and the friendships continue to bless us. We were thrilled when weekend travelers to our community stayed with us and worshiped at our church on Sundays. That speaks volumes about the importance of their faith and love for the Lord and his church.

Be a blessing and be blessed by connecting with other Christians when you travel.

Next Step:
Do you have any travel plans for the near future? Consider staying with a Christian host from a travel reservation site. If you stay in a hotel, try to locate and meet up with fellow believers during your trip.