TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 21, 2015.
HOSPITALITY
HOSPITALITY
The friendly reception and entertainment of guests, friends or strangers in a generous and kindly way; cordial treatment of others; the act or show of welcome characterized by warmth and generosity.
Share with God’s people who are in need; practice hospitality. Romans 12:13.
Most of us have had the opportunity to host and provide hospitality to someone. Maybe it was a friend, family member or an acquaintance. Hospitality could include a meal, an overnight stay or a midday social event.
Timothy shares with us a list of qualities that all believers, bishops and pastors should develop in their lives. In I Timothy 3:2 he speaks to the Bishops and pastors telling them to be kind and welcoming to those who they meet. These qualities are for believers as well because we are representatives of Christ. Timothy tells us to be hospitable, blameless, temperate, sober-minded, and able to teach.
In Matthew 25:35-36 Jesus describes acts of hospitality that we all can do that will demonstrate to others our love to the Lord. He 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.” Jesus says in verse 40 that whatever we have done for others it is as if we did it for Him.
May we interrupt this devotional by saying to each of you that read these devotionals, if you know Jesus as your Savior; you need to think about what Jesus is saying to you in these verses. Have you recently provided food for someone hungry, water for someone thirsty, clothes for someone needing clothes or shoes, medicine for someone sick, Bibles for someone looking to grow in their new found faith? If not we challenge you to act now. Go to our web site --- www.thehungersolution --- and you can partner with us by responding to an opportunity we offer.
Now back to hospitality: In Luke 11:5-8, we read about a parable about hospitality that Jesus used in teaching His disciples how to pray. He tells about a man coming to another man’s house for food and shelter for the night. The man welcomed the man to his house but he had no food so he went to his neighbor’s house. It was midnight and the neighbor friend did not want to be disturbed because it was so late.
Jesus went on to say that because of the persistence of the neighbor in need the other one finally helped. We as believers need to learn from this parable that God wants us to give hospitality to those in need and who are looking for a friend.
Hospitality means more than inviting one into your house. It is the character trait of showing warmth, kindness, caring and generosity to others. It means to help a needy person in their time of need. It could be a ride in your car because of an emergency, a few dollars for food, or just a kind word to one who is lonely and hurting. There are many acts of kindness that one can do. It is sharing God’s love.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalms 100:1
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands.
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.
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