Hospitality

One of the things God values is people being with one another and being hospitable to each other.

In the Bible in Romans 12 we read these words:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  

Romans 12:9-13

It’s nice to spend time with people.  Here in the Lower Mainland patio season is well underway.  Cities have made it easier for restaurants to open up part of the sidewalk near their establishment so more people can enjoy time with others.

Most of us enjoy times like that but time with other people brings challenges sometimes too, doesn’t it?

And so I’m thinking today about what it means to practice hospitality of the heart.

There can be times when the words and actions of others that are quite different from ours gets on our nerves a bit, right?  It's not that hard to get a bit irritated by it all and then how welcoming are we, really, of what someone else is saying or doing around us?

If being sincerely loving at all times weren’t a challenge I doubt that Paul would have bothered writing to people to tell them to do it.  If thinking about others and honouring them and their needs over our own desires and ways wasn’t challenging, the people would not have needed to be encouraged to do so.

And so Lord we come to You today asking for Your help to have hospitable hearts towards others.  We all have weaknesses and character defects and we need Your grace to accept one another as we are and learn how to come alongside each other in ways that are mutually beneficial. 

The Bible says:  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

Ephesians 4:2-3

What a description of hospitality of heart that is.

So God, please give us hospitable hearts that welcome diversity and the creativity that comes our way.  Help us to be humble, gentle, and patient, always striving to live in unity with others.

As we interact with others, help us to live out Your way of being loving and welcoming.   Amen

Have a great day with whoever you are with.