Archive for the ‘hospitality’ Category

August 26, 2010 Hospitality

Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 50; Jeremiah 51; 3 John 1 (The Message)

Scripture Focus:

3 John 1:5–8 Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! They set out under the banner of the Name, and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.

Observation:

Hospitality makes our faith visible. God wants me to be hospitable to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers. The goal for hospitality is to make it worthy of God himself. When we extend hospitality to traveling evangelists, we become their partner in spreading the Truth.

Application:

I’ve never felt gifted in this area, but God isn’t asking me to be hospitable only if I’m gifted. I only need to do it as though I’m welcoming Him into my home.

Prayer:

Father God, when there is an opportunity to be hospitable, give me the grace to be gracious!

March 9, 2009 Fatherless, Widows, and Strangers

Today’s Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 10–12; Mark 16

Scripture Focus:

Deuteronomy 10:17–19 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Observation:

I recently watched a video series called The Truth Project, which goes through the foundations of a Christian world view. One thing that came out over and over was that the reason God requires us to do certain things or to display certain characteristics is because they are rooted in his nature and therefore are good and true.

Giving justice to and care for the fatherless and widows and loving strangers fits into this category. God says, “I love strangers, so you should love them, too!” or “I care about justice for orphans and widows, so you should make sure they get justice.”

Application:

Who do I know around me that falls into this category? How can I show them the love of God? Many of these people need help fitting in or help doing things that are hard for them.

Prayer:

Father, God, open my eyes to see who I can bless with hospitality or some other tangible or intangible form of love!