Is hospitality throwing a Martha Stewart fancy or trendy dinner or superbowl party for our friends or family? According to the Bible, it definitely does not end there. One thing is for sure, as I looked into Scripture for home as a place of hospitality, I saw that it meant to welcome strangers, foreigners, and God’s ministers. One example of welcoming strangers is when Abraham welcomed the three visitors into his tent and fed them (Gen 19:2-3).
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Hebrews 13:2) Who knows if I have ever entertained angels.
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Notice Hospitality is very much tied to food. Best way to make use of your kitchen.[/caption]
We have had many different precious people come in and out of our home. Brothers and sisters who have been in need of housing have found a place of refuge under our roof. Interestingly, just months after we have hosted a couple who were homeless, we were hosted by a beautiful sister in the Lord when we were homeless. You never know when you will be on the other side of a situation.
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Celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles. Sukkot. A Time of Rejoicing.[/caption]
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We eat on the floor, like camping. And of course lots of delicious food.[/caption]
One great reason the Lord commands us to open our home to strangers is because He wants us to remember when we were strangers, and homeless in Egypt meaning that without Him we were lost and enslaved. Isaiah 58:7 says that if we feed the hungry and provide a home for the homeless, the promise is that ‘salvation will come!’ There is also a place for great home banquets and feasts. I love these moments. Feasting in the Bible is common. In fact, God is waiting for us to feast with Him once more. Jesus went to feasts into people’s homes like Levi and Zacheaus.
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Our table would overflow with guests and filled with God centered conversations[/caption]
Another of my favorite hospitality experiences is hosting God’s people and ministers of His Word. “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13). This was so common for missionaries to be hosted in Believer’s homes. Remember Mary and Martha? Paul would also send ministers to churches and ask the churches to receive them. Lydia in Acts 16:15 was one of those Believer’s who opened her home for Paul and Silas to stay. How many times have we asked missionaries to stay at our home? We have had quite a few over the years. Ministers from Uganda, Argentina, China, Philippines, Mexico and different US states have blessed our home with their stay.
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Notice the little people. They grow up around the older and hopefully wiser.[/caption]
I have heard the reservations to this type of hospitality. Some Christians have said, “I can’t live like that with people coming in and out all the time, I need my privacy.” Many of us weren’t taught to open our homes. But, as we come to the Lord, He becomes the Lord of our lives including our homes. Everything we have is His, including your house. We are also commanded to obey His Word as Christians we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us put aside our insecurities and grow us in love for others. Here is a suggestion, once you know that hospitality is expected of you if you are God’s child, then you can start by inviting families in need and lonely young adults over to your home for dinner.
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Awww! How I miss those special moments of sharing our lives with others. Living in community is hospitality at its best.[/caption]
Wow! The potential we have in using our homes as a blessing to many is truly amazing. Are you ready to give up your privacy for a greater purpose God has for your house? Many Christians don’t have homes like yours around the world. Why do you think God gifted you with this one? If we don’t have a vision for our homes we will fall into the temptation of coveting nicer kitchens, be frustrated with meaningless things around the house and just be miserable. But if we view it as a place of hospitality, then we will gratefully keep it clean and prepared to host whomever the Lord would bring.
Will you host in your home someone new, lonely, or homeless?
What are some ideas you practice hospitality?
The Home - Part 9
[...] The Home – Part 8 [...]
ReplyDeleteA great article and I am so thankful that you are living out hospitality at your Home. I myself was blessed when I faced the hardest season of my life and you opened your hearts and home for me. When I had nothing left to give you took me in and in the midst of our living community where we shared dinners, prayers and worship nights I could heal and felt closer to God when I have every felt before. The love lived out on a day to day basis and the friendships that where build in the House of Prayer nourished body and soul. I imagine that it is not easy to invite strangers (and their problems) into your home when you have little children. I desire to have a community like that in our home to give back to others what I have experienced myself. So far we only had a friend live with us for 8 weeks and hosted some dinners for neighbors and friends, but the opportunity to host someone new, lonely or homeless has not arisen yet. How did you first start opening your home?
ReplyDeleteOh, we so enjoyed you and learned a lot from you too. You are right about being careful when you have little children. We have a passion to mentor young people. You and your husband will know who is a good fit and who is the Lord sending. There are many young people without a family. Many don't know what a family looks like. As a Homemaker, it is a challenge to create a heavenly environment in our homes where everyone will feel God's peace.
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