Hospitality
“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:1-2)
Today’s Morsel: Did you know that one of the most effective ways to lead people to the Lord is through hospitality. Dictionary.com defines hospitality as “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.” Hospitality is one of those Christian graces that requires conscious effort to attain. Some folks shy away from it and are filled with a sense of guilt because they do not practice it enough. The reason? It involves being unselfish with our private space, our time, our energy, our possessions, in short, our homes, and ourselves. Paul, Peter, and John all refer to the giving of hospitality in the context of practical love to fellow believers. Peter comes close to our difficulty when he commands us to "offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:9) It surely costs something to open your home to others, especially to strangers. When Simon invited Jesus to his home, Jesus was surprised that Simon invited him but showed no hospitality. Peter said that we ought to use hospitality without murmuring and complaining. When you invite someone to your home, it ought to be for the right reasons, not to vent about others. Paul states: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) What are some qualities of good hospitality?
1. Communication: Good hospitality is being able to communicate with your guest. You must be willing to give your guest your undivided attention. If you have more than one guest invited, your communication ought to be able to include all. There ought to be no communications where some are excluded.
2. Cleanliness: Good hospitality should make people feel comfortable in your home. Pets should not be walking around on the counters or tables, and bathrooms ought to be clean, trash empty, toilet paper on the rolls, and towels for drying hands.
3. Seating: Identify where you want your guest to sit at the dinner table if it is a sit-down meal. Man, woman, man woman…
4. Excitement: Be excited that your guests are there.
5. Introduction: Don’t assume that everyone knows each other if you have a new group of people. Some of your guests may have never met. So be ready to introduce them to others.
6. Remember, you are the host not the guest. So don’t expect others to serve you. You should serve them.
7. Send people away feeling good about themselves and about you. Always thank them for coming.
The writer of Hebrews admonishes us: “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:1-2)
Sing: Well, what a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arm. I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arm.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarm. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arm.
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