HOSPITALITY
When I was 20 years old I was introduced to the Thomas family in Southern California and they made an unforgettable impression on my life. There home was like a turn style and young people from the college felt like their home was a home away from home .As you know, there are several verses in the New Testament which reference HOSPITALITY and the Thomas family were a wonderful example of what the Bible is speaking of.
As we come into this special time of the year, let's visit a few of these verses. Let's lean in and listen to Apostle Peter's take on this important subject:
1 Peter 4:9
"Use HOSPITALITY ONE TO ANOTHER WITHOUT GRUDGING." This verse is in reference to loving strangers, my emphasis is the need to be open to those who we worship with. It is a heart attitude that Peter is making a point of and one translation says be quick to have a meal for the hungry and a bed to the homeless cheerfully. This was important in Bible times. Titus calls attention to the need for leaders to be lovers of HOSPITALITY, I would add to this to be people gatherers and Paul admonishes young Timothy to be given to HOSPITALITY. One may ask what does it mean to be given to? In other words, you are owned by the need to open your home to others for fellowship and friendship. Bob Smith and I were talking about this great and needy subject and he said to be owned, is to be prone; to have and inclination or tendency toward HOSPITALITY.
He and Marilyn love to have company, play games or just share stories concerning there missionary experiences.
They have a piece of artwork in there home that may say it best:
BECAUSE OF GOD'S LOVE, WE WELCOME STRANGER'S
BY OPENING YOUR HOME DURING THESE COMING DAYS, THIS COULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BLESS OTHERS. I AM JUST TAKING THIS MOMENT TO SPOTLIGHT WHAT GOD'S WORD HAS SPOTLIGHTED.
I believe in you,
I bless you,
I belong to you and by your HOSPITALITY you can help others feel they belong as well.
Pastor Cleddie Keith
As we come into this special time of the year, let's visit a few of these verses. Let's lean in and listen to Apostle Peter's take on this important subject:
1 Peter 4:9
"Use HOSPITALITY ONE TO ANOTHER WITHOUT GRUDGING." This verse is in reference to loving strangers, my emphasis is the need to be open to those who we worship with. It is a heart attitude that Peter is making a point of and one translation says be quick to have a meal for the hungry and a bed to the homeless cheerfully. This was important in Bible times. Titus calls attention to the need for leaders to be lovers of HOSPITALITY, I would add to this to be people gatherers and Paul admonishes young Timothy to be given to HOSPITALITY. One may ask what does it mean to be given to? In other words, you are owned by the need to open your home to others for fellowship and friendship. Bob Smith and I were talking about this great and needy subject and he said to be owned, is to be prone; to have and inclination or tendency toward HOSPITALITY.
He and Marilyn love to have company, play games or just share stories concerning there missionary experiences.
They have a piece of artwork in there home that may say it best:
BECAUSE OF GOD'S LOVE, WE WELCOME STRANGER'S
BY OPENING YOUR HOME DURING THESE COMING DAYS, THIS COULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BLESS OTHERS. I AM JUST TAKING THIS MOMENT TO SPOTLIGHT WHAT GOD'S WORD HAS SPOTLIGHTED.
I believe in you,
I bless you,
I belong to you and by your HOSPITALITY you can help others feel they belong as well.
Pastor Cleddie Keith