When I was growing up and heard the word Hospitality, I immediately thoguht... Someone must be coming over... Time to clean the house... again. I thought it meant that you should clean up the house, make it presentable, cook a nice meal, put out the nice plates and napkins and make whoever comes through the door feel important and cared for.
I must say that is a very naroow minded view of a very broad truth. I think we as Christians like putting broad truth into narrow pathways because it is easier to feel like we are doing what Christ commanded us to do... and therefore feel beeter about how we are living as Christians.
The idea behind hospitality is directly related to the heart and not directly to an action. Hospitality is an attitude of the heart. It is a lifestyle that Christ desires us to have towards each other as followers of Jesus and not simply an ction we display once a month to a stranger or friend over dinner.
1 Peter 4:7-11
7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
This entire passage teaches us about hospitality as an attitude.
1. It starts out by protraying the urgency of the attitude by saying there is not much time left so get your heart involved.
2. The passage then describes how to initially get your heart ivolved and prepared. Hospitality can only truly be lived out through the power of Christ living through you, therefore one must first take time to align themself with the creator and beg for His mercy and grace and direction on how to live this out.
3. Hopsitality can never be fostered in one's heart until love has been allowed to conquer bitterness and to forgive other people's wrongs that they have done towards u. Love covers all the wrongs against you and allows you to think about and pursue the right things.
4. Then the passage begs us to begin desiring hospitality. See up to this point it was all about aligning yourself with God in your heart. Please note: Hospitality will always come after opening your heart to the creator first. Then it opens the door for you to begin learning and seeking to be hospitable gladly and freely.
5. See the heart of Hospitality is about serving others with who we are not about the fancy napkins but with the grime and gunk of our lives. See none of us are perfect and yet many of us live our lives so noone sees the real us. We have the great meal... that you eat only when guests are ove... you put out the nice napkins that you use only when guests are there. Think about your life... if you are anything like me... you do this with your life as well. You have this perfect happy face around people at church and yet your kids and friends know that it is not the real you. The person your kids see at home should be the person other Christians should see as well. Otherwise you are being hypocritical and not hospitable. Hispitality calls us as followers to be real. When this happens then all of a sudden the non Chrisitians you come in contact with don't feel judged, but loved because they find a person that has real issues like them and they will begin seeing that Grace is something worth looking into.
6. Hospitality is about opening your heart up and living for God in all you are and in all you do. Nothing more... nothing less. If you are jsut putting out the nice napkins in order to impress and entertain... you are not being hopsitiable but selfish. There is nothing technically wrong with the napkins and the delicious food... just beware of the attitude behind it. Is it for Christ's glory... or your own?
Go and be hospitable today in the name and power of Jesus!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Open Heart = Open Lives
2 Corinthians 6:3-13 -"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also."
This scripture speaks of giving up everything you are to follow Christ, to be part of His family.
You can not give up everything if your heart is not involved.
Allowing the Holy Spirit to invade your entire heart is the key. The Holy Spirit never forces His way into the parts of your heart that you do not what to open up. He never picks a lock or kicks down the door... He simply waits for you to open it freely. He may stand and knock, plead or beg you to open it, but it is never forced.
The essence of Hospitality is rooted in this principle of opening up your heart to the Holy Spirit to come in. The previous verses paint the picture, rather graphically, on how to open up and what must be given up. When we as followers of Christ do what Paul and others do here.... "Opened wide our hearts, not with holding any affection"... then we are able to express this openness to others. This openness is the essence and key principle in hospitality.
I believe Hospitality is not something you do... it is an attitude we have. It is an attitude that does not come naturally and that is why Paul commands the leaders of the church and overseers to "practice" hospitality. Over seers and leaders of the church are to be given to the practice of hospitality according to the New testament. When the leaders practice this heart wrenching attitude, it can't help but effect, encourage, and glorify the body of Christ.
Where is your heart today?
Is it open?
Are you wanting to open the door of your heart fully to the Spirit of God yet are scared of what He will see?
Until you open your heart to God, you will never open it to others. I believe it is a ratio thing. The amount your heart is open to the Holy Spirit is directly proportional to the amount your heart, your home, your lives are open to others. Is the ratio pleaseing to the Lord?
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also."
This scripture speaks of giving up everything you are to follow Christ, to be part of His family.
You can not give up everything if your heart is not involved.
Allowing the Holy Spirit to invade your entire heart is the key. The Holy Spirit never forces His way into the parts of your heart that you do not what to open up. He never picks a lock or kicks down the door... He simply waits for you to open it freely. He may stand and knock, plead or beg you to open it, but it is never forced.
The essence of Hospitality is rooted in this principle of opening up your heart to the Holy Spirit to come in. The previous verses paint the picture, rather graphically, on how to open up and what must be given up. When we as followers of Christ do what Paul and others do here.... "Opened wide our hearts, not with holding any affection"... then we are able to express this openness to others. This openness is the essence and key principle in hospitality.
I believe Hospitality is not something you do... it is an attitude we have. It is an attitude that does not come naturally and that is why Paul commands the leaders of the church and overseers to "practice" hospitality. Over seers and leaders of the church are to be given to the practice of hospitality according to the New testament. When the leaders practice this heart wrenching attitude, it can't help but effect, encourage, and glorify the body of Christ.
Where is your heart today?
Is it open?
Are you wanting to open the door of your heart fully to the Spirit of God yet are scared of what He will see?
Until you open your heart to God, you will never open it to others. I believe it is a ratio thing. The amount your heart is open to the Holy Spirit is directly proportional to the amount your heart, your home, your lives are open to others. Is the ratio pleaseing to the Lord?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
What does Hospitality Look Like?
Hospitality is a mysterious word. To some it means entertaining people in their homes. Others seem to think it is an attitude of the heart. While others feel like it has to involve food. While others say that it is just something that some do because they have that "gift". Is it a spiritual gift? Is it something for everyone to practice or is it really just something some should practice? If it is for just a certain group of people, who then should practice it and how do you know it is or isn't you? This blog is dedicated to the search for answrs of these very questions. It is designed specifically for the purpose of giving you a place to dialogue with, wrestle with, and try to understand this word Hospitality.
I will begin this blog with these simple questions and the following scriptures. Take time to read, ponder, and comment. I look forward to the following discussions and hopefully new insights and a better understanding of this mysterious topic.
Hebrews 13:1&2
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hoespitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without even realizing it!
Genesis 18:1-8
God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.
He said, "Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path."
They said, "Certainly. Go ahead."
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread."
Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate.
I will begin this blog with these simple questions and the following scriptures. Take time to read, ponder, and comment. I look forward to the following discussions and hopefully new insights and a better understanding of this mysterious topic.
Hebrews 13:1&2
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hoespitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without even realizing it!
Genesis 18:1-8
God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.
He said, "Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path."
They said, "Certainly. Go ahead."
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread."
Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate.
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