Come to the table:Offer hospitality
Hebrews 13:2
Matthew 25:31-46
1 Peter 4:7-10
With Peter Veysie
We should find ourselves as followers of Jesus trying to work out what it means to be hospitable not to show off but to really allow the Holy Spirit to move,speak and love through us. I took time for breakfast yesterday in between having to do a funeral and I was overwhelmed by the attention to detail and care that everybody took over serving the most delicious breakfast to us. It was awesome. It’s not easy to invite someone to your table but remember that you might be hosting angels (messengers) without even knowing it.
God invites us to His table and ofers us hospitality right at the beginning in the garden.Genesis 1 and 2
Promises and challenges. The world is not always a hospitable place and we see throughout history real battles for land and clans and a pulling apart of each other. These led to the dividing up of land and struggles which continue to be a challenge to us. We continually see God’s promises pushing through but they are reminded often to offer hospitality even to strangers. Lev 19:34 because they were once strangers in the land of Egypt !!!
Jesus enters history as the Host – the bread. He invites us to the table and we are called to invite others. Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than it is to receive.
Practicing hospitality in brokeness – when were they hungry ? The untouchables and what we do but also those that we need to connect with. It’s often easier to build with broken people rather than those that have got it all together.The cause is listed
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.Opening yourself to others.
Hospitality is built out of compassion and it is a gift of the Spirit. Some have it in greater proportions than others. You can go to someones home and get immediately that this is their gift. It incorporates a lot of generosity and a commitmnet from the other host to purposefully pour yourself into others who may or may not have anything to offer in return. We also need to be sure that we have set clear boundaries in our lives otherwise there is room for abuse.
We don’t do it for a reward but certainly the Lord is watching. Matthew 25: 34-35 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. In inviting others , we find an opportunity to bring into a place of understanding what it means to be children of God. It opens their eyes to how much the Lord loves them and wants to be the HOST.
Hospitality means Love for the Lord and for self and even enemies at times. Matthew 25:43 -48 we are called to love in an extraordinary way- to the outcasts,the sinners, the hungry, the sick, the naked, the prisoners and everyone who needs the love of God. If we want to people to be hospitable to us we need to be hospitable to them. Matthew 7:12 whatever you want others to do to you, do also to them. – you did it to Me !!! Hospitality is always inclusive rather than exclusive – the Host at the table. The Lord’s supper and the invitation to COME TO THE TABLE – Luke 14:12 -14 invite those who cannot repay you !!!
Entertaining angels – what’s that about ? Hebrews 13:2 – the greek is messenger and certainly you may find that the Lod will speak through those who we are hospitable to and sometines in a way that they become a messenger. The Elisha room in our home.
Examples as we close: Abraham with three strangers gen 18:2-5. Rahab with the spies Josh 2:1. David and Mephibosheth( the lame child of Jonathan) 2 Sam 9:7 Jonathan’s son. The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 Zachaeus down from the tree and invites him for supper.
Hospitality matters to God and it must matter to us. Friends visiting last night – what a joy.
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