Hospitality: July 8, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY JULY 8, 2013.

HOSPITALITY

DEFINITION: 

The reception of guests in a generous and kindly way.

SCRIPTURE:

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2.

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

When you read travel magazines and newspaper real estate adds you notice offers for travelers to rent a bedroom in a local family home. When you look up on the internet for such services you will notice one program, founded by Casey Fenton, that alone has well over 250,000 homes available with bedrooms to rent. Some call this opening one's home to offer hospitality to travelers.

This service sounds a little like biblical hospitality. In the verse above the writer of Hebrews instructed believers to practice their faith in Jesus Christ through hospitality. This was defined by the early Christ followers as acts of generosity towards strangers.

In the first century, hospitality often included housing a guest. This was hardest to do during days that Christians were being persecuted. Believers who offered this hospitality would not know if the guest was a spy or fellow believer. But the writer of Hebrews was suggesting that when they hosted a guest they well could be inviting a blessing into their home.

In today's world things are much different. We have hotels, motels and guest houses for people who travel. Also because of the great evil in the world offering a room in your house to someone you do not know could bring one who will bring disaster into your home. As God's people, we are called to be hospitable to others as part of our gratitude for the salvation we have received from God.

In the verse from Romans (above) Paul in this 12th chapter, verses 9-21, gives the people in the Church at Rome and us a comprehensive and mandatory list of traits that characterize the Spirit-filled life. Paul presents these characteristics for us under 4 categories. They are our personal duties, duties to others, family duties and to those who consider us as enemies.  

Times have changed from that first century but you can show hospitality today by helping a person in need, giving encouragement to the lonely, praying for the sick and much more. People who have a heart for God have a heart for people. As we have opportunity we as believers must make ourselves available to those who are in need of Christ-like love and kindness. The apostle Paul reminds us of the words spoken by Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in II Timothy 2:15.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

PRAYER:

Help my family to be a caring and loving family that is willing to show hospitality to the needy, hurting, lonely and sick people that our lives touch today. We thank You for the many blessings that You have given us. Make us willing to help others that are in need out of all that You have given to us.