Hospitality: June 14, 2011

JUNE 14 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY JUNE 14, 2011

HOSPITALITY

DEFINITION:

The friendly reception and entertainment of guests, friends or strangers in a generous and kindly way; generous and cordial treatment of others.

SCRIPTURE:

Share with God’s people who are in need; practice hospitality. Romans 12:13.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Each one of us has been in a position when we needed to provide hospitality to someone, a friend or an acquaintance. Our response is usually tempered by both the timing and the people involved.

In I Timothy 3:2 Paul says that hospitality is one of the requirements for a church overseer --- bishops and pastors. They are the representatives of Christ and must be kind and welcoming to others. In this verse we are told that in addition to being hospitable they are to be blameless, temperate, sober-minded and able to teach. These are qualities that church overseers have a responsibility to maintain in their lives. They must live blameless lives that are above reproach.

These qualities that Timothy lists are qualities that all believers, not just bishops and pastors, should develop in their lives. We may not be church leaders but we are representatives of Christ. One of the ways we can show Christ to others is by our hospitality. We show our hospitality by our warm and kind treatment of others we meet daily and by helping those in need.

In Matthew 25: 35-36, Jesus describes acts of hospitality that we all can do that will demonstrate to others our love for the Lord. Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” In verse 40 Jesus says whatever we have done for others it is as if we did it for Him.

In Luke 11:5-8 we read about a parable about hospitality that Jesus used in teaching His disciples how to pray. He uses a parable about a friend coming to another friends house at midnight because he had no bread to feed the friend that came to his house needing shelter and food. The neighbor did not want to be disturbed because of the lateness of the hour.

Jesus went on to say because of the persistence of the neighbor in need the other one finally responded. We as believers must not be like the neighbor who was reluctant to help. We must be willing to give hospitality to those who need help and are looking for a friend.

Hospitality does not only mean to invite one into your house. It means to help a person in their time of need. It could be for a ride in your car in order to get to a store or a meeting: It could be a few dollars for food, or just a kind word to one who is lonely and hurting. There are many simple acts of kindness that anyone can do.

There are many examples of hospitality shown in the scriptures like Abraham to angels; Lot to an angel; Laban to Abraham’s servant; Joseph to his brothers; Pharaoh to Jacob and Rahab to the spies. God gives all of us opportunities to show others His love through our acts of hospitality.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:2.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

PRAYER:

Help me to be hospitable to those that I meet today. May I realize that my talk and actions at times show whether I am hospitable or not. May my family join me in having a welcome attitude to those who need some sort of hospitality.