“A
bishop then must be…hospitable…” (1 Timothy
3:2 NKJV)
It is one
thing to be hospitable to family and friends, but love demands that we reach
out to those we don’t know and who may not be able to return the favor. Jesus commanded:
Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a
dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor
rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor,
the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be
blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the
resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14 NKJV)
Since
this is the expectation for all disciples, it must be exemplified in the life
of the pastor.
For one
thing, this provides an opportunity to share the Gospel. It is one thing to go knock on someone else’s
door with the intent of telling them about the love of God—and we should—but,
what about showing someone the love of God when they knock on our door? Welcoming them gives credibility to our
claims of grace, mercy and compassion as Christian virtues.
What if
two strangers showed up at our door—she is in labor—and there is no place for
them to go? Would we turn them
away? That’s what happened to Joseph and
Mary! Surely, we wouldn’t want to do
that!
Wiersbe
says this means,
Literally, “loving the stranger.” This was an important ministry in the early
church when traveling believers would need places to stay (Rom. 12:13 ; Heb. 13:2 ; 3 John 5–8 ). But even today, a pastor and wife who are
hospitable are a great help to the fellowship of a local church.[1]
Our home
can be a sanctuary where a church is planted.
We may have strangers regularly tromping our carpet as they come for
Bible study. Our house can be a training
center where disciples are developed, and a lighthouse where the Gospel
radiates. Neighbors can be invited in to
meet Jesus—as Matthew did for his friends (Matt.9:9-13 ).
A
PRAYER
God our
Refuge,
You give
us a shelter in Your arms. Your Son is
preparing an eternal dwelling for us. We
have been the recipient of a warm welcome in the home of others. Please help our home to be a haven for the
hurting!
In Christ’s
Name,
Amen.
3 comments:
This is not just for pastors either! Every believer should be encouraged to open their home to others. There are so many reasons why it's hard- my home is not nice enough, I don't have enough money to feed extra people, I like to be private, etc. I have very felt not good enough to practice hospitality before. Fortunately, true hospitality is a working of the heart. If all you have to offer is a glass of water, do it in Jesus name. Bathe it in love and prayer for that person. Offer them a listening ear and a loving heart. That will be more than enough! People need to know that someone cares about them. Be that someone.
Thanks for reading and sharing Jennifer! You are on target!
Thanks for reading and sharing Jennifer! You are on target!
Post a Comment