Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
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Invitation to Christ’s hospitality
“My lord,if I find favor with you, do not pass by your
servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest
yourselves under the tree. (V.3,4)
In Abraham’s
day, a person’s reputation was largely connected to his hospitality – the
sharing of home and food. Even strangers were to be treated as highly honored
guests. With typical Middle Eastern hospitality, Abraham and Sarah welcomed the
angels unaware of who they were. “Do not forget to show hospitality to
strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without
knowing it.” (Heb 13:2)
Do you think that
Abraham knew who these people were? No, of course not. So, Abraham took the risk
to welcome the strangers, and he treats them like royalty. Paul says in Romans
12: 3 - Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think
of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God
has given you. v10: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one
another above yourselves. v13: Share with the Lord’s
people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Jesus gives us the
perfect example by washing the feet of the disciples in John 13:1-17. If even
he, God in the flesh is willing to serve, we his followers must also be
servants, willing to serve in any way that glorifies God. Jesus did not wash
his disciples’ feet just to get them to be nice to each other. His far greater
goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone.
This passage has
to do with you and the way God has treated you. You see, hospitality is what
God has shown us by accepting us into his fellowship through his Son, even when
we were strangers and enemies, and hostile to him. Hospitality tells me that
God no longer calls me a stranger, but called me a friend. Hospitality is an
act of grace, an unworthy favor that I have received from God, and in return, I
must share it with others in the same measure.
What does the
ministry of hospitality look like in our congregations and in our worship
services? When people who are strangers to the church and come to worship,
seeking the grace of God and gracious people, What we do to welcome them?
Hospitable acts like someone shaking your hand at the door, acknowledging your
presence, make a difference in people’s sense of welcome and belonging.
Hospitality often makes the difference in wanting to return to a place you’ve
never been before.
But at the same
time to be a welcoming church is to have a deep and rich understanding of
welcome. It goes beyond shaking someone's hand. It means immediately realizing
that our church is made better when we allow the backgrounds of other faithful
believers to help shape everything we're about as a church.
Prayer: Lord we are thankful for the grace that
you have showed us even when are unworthy. Help us to extend this grace and
hospitality to our fellow believers so your name may always be
glorified....Amen
Thought for the day:“Be merciful, just as your Father is
merciful”(Lk.6:36)
Chris
Thomas, St. Johns MTC, NY