When you’re thinking that of hospitality, what involves mind? As for me, I take into consideration inviting people into my home and making a space where they may feel loved and welcome. I’m occupied with keeping them nourished and cozy – making the home warm and making guests feel valued irrespective of what they create on the door.
Paul invites us inside Romans 12:9-13“Don’t pretend to like others. I actually love them. I hate what’s fallacious. Hold fast to what is sweet. Love one another with sincere affection and revel in mutual respect. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord with enthusiasm. Rejoice in our trusting hope. Be patient in trouble and carry on praying. When God’s individuals are in need, be able to help them. Always be willing to practice hospitality.”
These verses remind me of God’s heart for His people. He wants us to really see and love His people. Sometimes people can tell when love is not real, so Paul tells us that Really love them and serve them. We are to be spokesmen for the bearers of His image and give attention to helping them. This often means putting aside your individual plans to serve another person. Being hospitable will not be at all times convenient or helpful.
When someone shares things that concern them, it’s hard for me to not need to help. Sometimes I actually have to wish and ask the Lord to point out me what my role is in helping them because I recognize my limitations. I do know that I cannot meet all my needs alone. In some circumstances, what concerns them is beyond my skill or ability, but I actually have noticed God allowing my ears to listen to about someone who is likely to be in the sector or higher off to offer higher help.
Different types of hospitality
Hospitality is available in many forms. Sometimes it’s us directly, offering help, funding or listening. Other times, it could be presenting a must another person in our sphere of influence who can best help. God has given each of us ways to be hospitable.
Sometimes I actually have trouble asking others for help. Whenever I feel this happening, I’m reminded of somebody who told me “to not deprive someone of the chance to be a blessing.” These words rested on my heart because I never want someone who’s being guided as a blessing to be unable to accomplish that due to me.
When I believe of hospitality, I am unable to help but recall the Scriptures Acts 2:44-46which tells us: “And all of the believers gathered together in a single place and shared all that they had. They sold their possessions and possessions, and shared the cash with those in need. Every day they prayed together within the Temple, met at home for the Lord’s Supper, and with great joy and generosity shared their meals.’ What a good looking picture that will be! To have the chance to see people praying together and sharing all that they had. How nice would it not be to witness in today’s world?
God’s ultimate plan for hospitality
Many years ago I read a book The gospel comes with a house key by Rosario Butterfield. In this book, he talks about seeing our home as a spot where we exemplify the gospel message. When we are able to open our homes to our neighbors of all walks of life, we see how the gospel can bring together disparate individuals who the world would have thought would never get along. We don’t at all times need to recite Scripture; sometimes it’s only a matter of experiencing it.
We may not know why the Lord will put us in certain neighborhoods or postcodes, but we are able to make certain that there’s a strategic reason. God is meant in all things. It can use our homes to spark conversations that show those who they’re loved, seen, appreciated and cared for.
For a single neighbor, it’d show her that she doesn’t need to eat dinner alone, and for a neighbor who just moved to town, it’d show her that there is a friendly face willing to assist. Thanks to our hospitality, we now have the chance to transcend the Scriptures daily. We cannot underestimate how hospitality can open the door to a fresh Jesus experience for somebody. If we allow God to make use of us, He will open doors for us to point out love and kindness to and for His people.
When God allows our eyes to see need, He opens the door for us to seek out ways to point out them hospitality.
Practical, biblical hospitality
Below are some practical ways to practice biblical hospitality:
1. Pray and ask the Lord for methods to be hospitable: We all have different passions and skill sets. Ask the Lord how you should use what you may have during this time to practice hospitality. It may be so simple as inviting someone for a walk, offering to assist a single mother, or opening a house for college kids at your church. God can reveal ways of hospitality to satisfy the needs of your community. He rejoices to see us show love for His people. What a good looking gospel picture when we are able to decide to help another person and never keep all of it to ourselves.
2. Create a community-supporting environment: One way we may be welcoming is by making people feel seen, valued and secure. This can happen in your property and on a regular basis conversations. We should genuinely try to offer comfort to those entrusted to us. When we support some of these communities, it should open the door for them to melt their hearts in order that they will receive what the Lord can bestow upon you. We weren’t made to live alone, and we shouldn’t feel comfortable seeing others living this manner.
3. Always search for opportunities to serve: There will at all times be a chance to serve someone to a greater or lesser extent. We just need to take care of an attitude of heart that desires to see how we are able to serve. There are alternative ways to do that, but as you construct fellowship with those entrusted to you, ask them for methods you can assist lighten their burden. Jesus got here to earth and ministered to others; we are able to follow His example by finding ways to serve the people of our world. Be hospitable to those you see and find ways to serve them.
4. Respect our words: Ephesians 4:29 says: “Let no unwholesome speech come out of your lips, but only what helps to construct others up in keeping with their needs, in order that it should profit those that listen.” Our words have power. We can select words to lift or tear someone down. As believers, we should always search for encouraging ways to make use of our words to be helpful to another person. This world degrades people enough; they do not need what leaves our mouths to do the identical.
Hospitality should flow from us believers. We ought to be people who find themselves at all times searching for ways to bless others. Let the gospel be revealed through our day by day practice of biblical hospitality. Let God show us why He put us in our workplace, in our neighborhoods and in our churches. There is at all times a greater reason why He has us in these places and around certain people. God is sweet and gracious. He wants His goodness and kindness to be manifested through us and for His people. God can construct His kingdom in some ways, but He allows us to be partners with Him on this regard. Let us be partners who strive to be hospitable to His people, irrespective of how He leads us.
Image Credit: ©Unsplash/Aaron Burden
