Hospitable Love

Hospitable Love

1.     Treating visitors well: friendly, welcoming, and generous to guests or strangers

2.  Agreeable: pleasant, agreeable, and providing what somebody needs to feel/sense/live comfortably

Jesus has moved into the neighborhood! He personifies hospitality. And as such, he lives in and through his followers with the love of hospitality. In the scriptures following Jesus defines critical aspects of his hospitality. They are; generosity, revelatory love, practicing kindness, sharing without bad attitudes or grumbling, creating a safe place and home for one another and visitors/strangers. In a hospitable atmosphere a sense/place of belonging is created. 

 “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” (John 1:13 Msg)

"Because a loveless world," said Jesus, "is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him - we'll move right into the neighborhood!” (John 14:23 Msg)

 

“I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God.” (Rev. 21:3 Msg)

“Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Rom. 16:23)

“Some sisters are well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.” (1 Tim. 5: 10)

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9 NIV)

“We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.” (3 John 1:8 NIV)

Hospitality is a process of welcoming me and others to be at home in order to rest and be your true self. In hospitality, you are offered space in time, a safe harbor, a sanctuary, a secure place and ultimately a home where you can find peace and at-homeness. Hospitality creates a relaxed presence that enables you to live in reality. In this safe place, you are natural, at ease, content, spontaneous, simple, and familiar.

God’s hospitality is an integral function of his love for his children and his love for the world. The following quote gives a glimpse of how deep this hospitality must be. “Unless and until, the future of the world becomes more important than the future of the church, the church has no future.” The church was never meant to be a social or religious club. Nor was the church to be cloistered and focused on herself.

The Father’s hospitality is embodied in John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” “Whoever believes on Him shall have eternal life.”

My entrance into Christ’s life and Kingdom was the direct result of His loving hospitality through a couple who took me into their home directly off the streets. I lived in Papa’s hospitality through Robert and Sarah for two plus years. I am convinced I wouldn’t have made the journey from street drug addict to child of God without their hospitable love! Take an inventory of the impact of hospitality on your Christian journey. You will be amazed!

Warmly welcome yourself and others today with hospitable love. Ron Ross