𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝟷𝟷 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝟹-𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮, “𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵”.

I walked through the house checking off a mental list: clean, tidy rooms (check), linens freshly washed and beds made (check), fresh, delicious foods in the fridge to make their favorite meals and the best coffee and dessert to encourage lingering over conversation (check), flowers in their favorite colors in a simple vase on the dresser and the kitchen table (check and check).

We were ready and excited to welcome one of our favorite people to stay with us for a few days!

Preparing our home for a beloved overnight guest, thoughtful of all that will make them feel personally valued, safe, cared for, cozy and comfortable in our home, is one beautiful picture of hospitality.  But, as a believer desiring to live for Christ, true hospitality is a deeper, broader goal worth pursuing!

THE LORD JESUS EXTENDS GENEROUS HOSPITALITY TO US:

There is more than enough room in My Father’s house. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am. (John 14:2-3, NLT)

No one knows us better, loves us more deeply, or has the means to prepare a place that will truly feel like “home” to us! I can only imagine that each “place” will be uniquely designed and perfectly suited for each child of GOD. It is His joy to delight us.

But His desire expressed in those last few words thrills me the most. He wants me to be with Him, in the glory of the Father’s house, always! The Lord Jesus is not just creating a comfortable, inviting space for me, but has secured and is nurturing a treasured relationship with me!

THE LORD JESUS LONGS FOR US TO EXTEND HOSPITALITY TO HIM:

I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (Revelation 3:20, NLT)

Would the Lord Jesus feel welcome in our homes? Are we thoughtful of what would make Him feel “at home” there? Do we consider what delights His heart and work hard to cultivate an atmosphere where He will be honored?

Do we choose to set other things aside to linger over conversation with Him, to invest in a deepening, growing relationship with Him? May we treasure His desire to spend time with us and eagerly welcome Him in!

THROUGH NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS, GOD CALLS US TO REFLECT HIS HEART THROUGH HOSPITALITY TO OTHERS:

When GOD’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. (Romans 12:13, NLT) … Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers. (Hebrews 13:2, NIV)

To truly reflect the heart of GOD, may we be compelled to extend hospitality to all people, not just those we have an established connection with, those we especially enjoy spending time with, but to anyone the LORD brings across our path.  May we trust His Spirit to teach us how to make others feels seen, valued, and cared for!  

Offering our time, space, or resources in big and small ways can be used by God to put someone else at ease, to help them feel more “at home” in whatever circumstance they are facing.

A helping hand with bags someone is carrying, a watchful eye to be sure someone else makes it safely across the street, offering someone a ride, opening our home for someone to enjoy a meal or to host a gathering, or simply sitting beside someone who might be visiting our local church for the first time.

There are many ways we can extend simple or generous hospitality, to loved ones and strangers alike!

THE TRUE HEART OF THE GOSPEL COMPELS US TO EXTEND HOSPITALITY EVEN TO OUR ENEMIES:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies… my cup overflows. (Psalm 23:5, ESV)

This passage assures us that even in the midst of a battle, with real enemies threatening, our Good Shepherd prepares a table for us. We can still feel safe and provided for. We need not fear.

But could He also be showing us and equipping us to love like He does by extending an invitation to those very enemies to join us? To make room at the table for even those who oppose and attack us to enjoy His unconditional generosity?

To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (Luke 6:27-28, NLT)

This is the gospel. This is the heart of Christ. The very One who has promised to prepare a place for us in the Father’s house and to come to take us to be with Him, in intimate relationship for all eternity, gave His own life’s blood to redeem us when we were still His enemies!

The gospel transforms lives and relationships. The love of Christ shown through true hospitality to the most unlikely recipient has the power to impact another person, and their relationship with God and with others!

“𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥. 𝘖𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱.” (𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴, 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝘮)⁣
⁣
“𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘶𝘴𝘦. 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.” (𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘙𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘳, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯)

As our Lord Jesus has done for us, may we be looking for ways to meet hurting, lonely hearts with sincere care through hospitality. Let us endeavor to prepare a place for others, to invite them into genuine relationship.

May our attitudes and actions convey the reality that there is always a place for them, that we long for them to feel “at home” with us, an integral part of a family, where they will be seen, where every need can be anticipated, where they can relax, unwind, linger unhurried, feel safe, and enjoy a place to breathe and unburden their hearts.

Are we willing and eager to open our hearts and our homes, to welcome new connections, to forge new relationships, whether for a passing moment or a long-term friendship?  Do we embrace the true heart of Jesus to notice others, see their needs, and ask for the Father’s help and provisions to reach out in genuine care and generous hospitality?

Let’s challenge one another to pursue a deeper understanding of and a stronger commitment to God’s heart of true hospitality!