Hospitality

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”- Revelation 3:14,20 (www.biblegateway.com)


I would like to think that I am a hospitable person.  I would like to believe that anyone who comes to the door, I would invite in and allow them to be a part of our family.  I am not completely sure anyone in their right mind would want to come in and be a part of this family, but we would always offer.  I would like to think that anyone that is in need, would be able to come to us...but I know that the evils of the world would make this not true.  There would be people that I might be afraid to let in.  There would be people that maybe I have turned my back on for one reason or another...that I would be hesitant to let back in.  There might be people that I would not feel safe around...or safe enough to have my family around.  But God tells us to be open to letting ALL in.  Letting anyone and everyone that has a need...come in.  Maybe not into our house...or to sit at our dinner table...but to invite into our church homes...to our lives where God resides.  And in doing so...we are letting Christ into our lives with every opportunity of outreach.

I wonder what we do in our church to make others feel welcome.  I wonder what we do in our own town to make people know that we have seats at our table.  I wonder how people feel when they walk through the door to our service...and when they leave?  I wonder what people think when they see my smile.  Do they see Him?  Do they know that behind that smile is a helping hand?  Or have I made choices that would make them see differently?  Hmmmmmm....

Hospitality. 

hos·pi·tal·i·ty 


–noun, plural -ties.

1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.

2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

When others knock...are we letting them in?  When He knocks...are we letting Him in?  Good question.  Think today about what you might be able to do differently at church tomorrow to be more inviting to those who are knocking. 

Have a Blessed Day!
Amy