Reflect Christ: Show Hospitality
(written July 30th by Bryan Roe)
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
-1 Peter 4:8-11 (ESV)
In everything, our goal as Christians should be to glorify God. Is that your life’s aim? If so, we can only do this through Jesus Christ, who alone is able to save us and free us to live a life for God’s glory. We don’t glorify before God trying harder to please Him, but we do so through Jesus and what He has done for us. We then live in such a way that we demonstrate our faith in Him. We glorify Him by loving Him and loving who He loves. We glorify Him by seeking to bring our priorities into alignment with His.
What we see throughout the Bible is that God loves all those who are made in His image to glorify and enjoy Him. In the Old Testament God told the Israelites (His chosen people) to be hospitable to others, including outsiders (Dt. 10:19). In the New Testament God has told us as Christians (His chosen people) to be hospitable as well. In doing so we can display the glory of God’s love for all people.
To be hospitable means to be welcoming. We want to alleviate the burden that guests often feel being new somewhere - like the burden of feeling tired, awkward, unknowledgeable or lost. Can you think of a time when someone has shown you hospitality? Grandparents are often great at this. They welcome you at the door with a big hug and smile, help you with your luggage, and have a nice dinner prepared for you after a long drive. They don’t want you to have to worry about any of your needs not being met. They want you to be comfortable.
Consider now the concerns a new 7th grader or visitor might have when stepping into a student ministry on a Wednesday night for the first time. They might worry that they won’t have anyone to talk to, or that they’re going to be asked a question they don’t know the answer to. They might be worried they’re dressed the wrong way, or that the older students will be annoyed by them. Can you think of any other fears they might have? Certainly I haven’t listed them all.
Now, I want you to remember when you first became a Christian. Did you have everything figured out? Did you know the 10 Commandments or the books of the Bible in order? Did you all of a sudden have no more sin struggles? Even still Jesus opened wide His arms to welcome you. He didn’t welcome you because you cleaned yourself up. He welcomed you because He loves you and died on the cross for you. We were all undeserving and undesirable, yet Jesus desired to save us and make us His. Reflect also on how nothing Jesus has done since that day has shown us He doesn’t still want us. He is faithful and perfect in love. He never forsakes us. His hospitality is perfect, wouldn’t you say?
In the coming weeks we will have a number of new students join us in the student ministry. For some of you these students will be much younger that you. They will be coming in, perhaps, with fears and insecurities. We have a great opportunity to display the heart of Jesus by showing them the hospitality Jesus has shown us. A few practical ways we can do this is by asking their names, where they are from, and what school they attend, as well as what they like to do. We can encourage them by saying “I’m glad you came tonight!” or including them in conversations and games.
Hospitality takes sacrifice. It means giving up time you might rather spend catching up with friends in order to get to know a new student. It means sacrificing your comfort and wants for theirs. For Christians, though, there is joy abounding in following Christ in this. Friends, experience the delight in seeing someone else feel cared for and wanted. Show them the power of Christian community and acceptance, and be amazed by it yourself! Seek to glorify God by showing the radical hospitality that can be experienced no where else. As you do, be reminded of God’s hospitality toward you, and through prayer, ask Him to be your strength, guide, and joy, as you display His love and kindness to others. God can use your hospitality in amazing ways, perhaps even to help someone come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Will you join me in this pursuit?