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– A guest post by Dawn Klinge of Above The Waves –
Why does God ask Christians to show hospitality? What is the purpose?
It’s about His glory!
God has shown his grace to us by welcoming us into his family. We are called to do the same for others.
When we welcome others into our lives and our homes, it's not about us. It's about God's glory. @dawnklinge Click To TweetHow I learned the beautiful gift of hospitality.
Shortly after we were married, my husband and I moved hundreds of miles away from our hometown to go to college. We were strangers to nearly everyone in our new town. Not long after arriving, we ended up going to a church where we were warmly welcomed and shown what Christian hospitality is all about.
“Grace is the hospitality of God to welcome sinners not because of their goodness but because of his glory.”John Piper
Sunday dinners, Saturday afternoon boat rides on the river, Friday night hangouts: we were often the only non-family members at these gatherings- but we were treated like family. People kept inviting us into their homes and their lives at a time when we needed it.
I’m not sure why we even showed up that very first Sunday. In our minds, we were very close to being done with church. But I know why we returned the next week and why we made that church our home. We felt the love of Jesus through the love of His people. We loved that community!
Our time in that college town changed the course of our lives. We both look back on that time and place fondly, our relationships with God and our faith became more personal to us. I believe hospitality played a big part in that.
We have carried on the gift of hospitality to others throughout our marriage and it’s helped us grow stronger in the Lord and our marriage, as well as develop Godly friendships.
3 Scripture Verses That Calls Us To Show Hospitality
The following three Scripture verses make it clear that hospitality is something for all Christians:
“Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.” -Romans 12:13
“Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.” 1 Peter 4:8-9
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:1-2
Naturally, many of us draw inward. Hospitality can go against our selfish tendencies. But we can ask God to make our hearts like His. Grace is what we have been given, and grace is what we are to give, cheerfully, to the glory of God.
Christian hospitality carries eternal consequences.
Think about the ways you can be strategic in the way you steward your home, your time and your resources on a daily basis.
Hospitality allows us to reflect the glory of God to those around us and share the grace that we have been so richly given.
Anytime of year is a perfect time to practice hospitality!
Look for at least two people over the next couple of months that you don’t know well. Find people that you can start a conversation with or maybe bump into occasionally at church or in various social activities. Invite them to a meal or coffee in your home.
Be a friend to someone new and see what beauty God can make from your act of kindness!
Dawn is a freelance writer and Christian blogger who loves encouraging women to keep their focus on Jesus. She’s the author of Look to Jesus: How to Let Go of Worry and Trust God. Dawn is also a wife and mom to 2, currently in the process of publishing her first Christian historical romance novel. She is a Seattle girl who loves books and coffee. You can find her at www.dawnklinge.com.
