Hospitality
Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Romans 12:13
Who are the saints referred to here? Definitely not those canonised by the Catholic Church, they are long gone. The saints are fellow believers; local and distant.
Saints are not only those wonderful souls who always seem to be doing good, but they are fellow, blood washed Christians.
Scripture tells us not to ignore their plight and send them away empty handed by just saying:'God bless you brother.'
If a need comes to light then what can we do about it? Cook a meal, clean, buy groceries, mow the lawn, give money. We do not have to instantly relegate the responsibility to the church with:' why that's what I pay my tithe for!'
We are the body of Christ and if the need is revealed to us then perhaps God is asking us to assist.
The next point is: pursue hospitality, not, if you absolutely must, provide hospitality. Pursue means: ' run after, chase'. Like a man pursuing a woman. Men, you sure know how to chase, women you know what it is like to be pursued. Usually a good experience, if the attention is welcome.
Imagine the same joy in pursuing hospitality.
I remember my first lesson in hospitality as a new Christian. The Pastor and his wife would invite us single, lonesome young people to dine with them every Sunday lunch. We had a morning service, lunch, then an afternoon service. I so looked forward to those days.
When married, as pastors, my husband and I would invite people home for Sunday lunch almost every week, I had learned my lesson well.
I still love to have people over now that I am single again.
People need friendship and we can do that!
Who are the saints referred to here? Definitely not those canonised by the Catholic Church, they are long gone. The saints are fellow believers; local and distant.
Saints are not only those wonderful souls who always seem to be doing good, but they are fellow, blood washed Christians.
Scripture tells us not to ignore their plight and send them away empty handed by just saying:'God bless you brother.'
If a need comes to light then what can we do about it? Cook a meal, clean, buy groceries, mow the lawn, give money. We do not have to instantly relegate the responsibility to the church with:' why that's what I pay my tithe for!'
We are the body of Christ and if the need is revealed to us then perhaps God is asking us to assist.
The next point is: pursue hospitality, not, if you absolutely must, provide hospitality. Pursue means: ' run after, chase'. Like a man pursuing a woman. Men, you sure know how to chase, women you know what it is like to be pursued. Usually a good experience, if the attention is welcome.
Imagine the same joy in pursuing hospitality.
I remember my first lesson in hospitality as a new Christian. The Pastor and his wife would invite us single, lonesome young people to dine with them every Sunday lunch. We had a morning service, lunch, then an afternoon service. I so looked forward to those days.
When married, as pastors, my husband and I would invite people home for Sunday lunch almost every week, I had learned my lesson well.
I still love to have people over now that I am single again.
People need friendship and we can do that!
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