Practice Hospitality....
“Accept one another,
then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
(Romans 15:7)
Accept is Strongs
#4355, the Greek word proslambano,
and
it means to receive or welcome as an intimate friend. It suggests
taking a special interest in the other, showing the kindness and
granting them access to one's heart.
The
context Paul was saying this was in confronting them for judging one
another for their external acts. They were seeing religion by what
people did and passing judgment on them. Paul tells them in Romans
14:13, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle
in the way of a brother or sister.”
They
were deeming some things 'unclean'. Paul confronts this and tells
them that nothing is unclean in itself (Rom 14:14) What matters is
acting in love (Rom. 14:15)
The
kingdom of God is not about what we do or put into our bodies, as if
certain things are holy and others are not... he tells us the kingdom
of God is not about such things but about righteousness, peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:16).
He
goes on to tell them in Rom. 14:19, “Let us therefore make every
effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
How
often we see Christians being unaccepting of people because of their
own religious beliefs, shying away or avoiding the person who is
considered “unclean” by one's own judgments rather than welcome
them with open arms.
I
have this Christian Icon on my computer screen (above) as a reminder. It is Jesus with the woman at the well. What
I find interesting about the picture is that Jesus is sitting down
and bearfoot while this woman is standing up with a dignified stance and dress.
Too often in my time as a Christian, I have gravitated to a picture where the Christian is tall and dignified, bending over to reach down and touch the poor. Perhaps this is the way I see God at times... bending over and reaching down to meet our needs.
While there is a time for reaching out and extending help, this was not the welcoming hospitality that Jesus frequently gave to others in his path. He empowered them by coming under, being their friend and lifting them up.
Jesus went out of his way to come down and lift us up rather than staying at His high position of glory and helping us from there. Philippians 2:5-8 says,... although He existed in the form of God... [He] emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." And on the cross, He took the lowest position as He was lifted up on the cross in our place in order that we could be freed.
Too often in my time as a Christian, I have gravitated to a picture where the Christian is tall and dignified, bending over to reach down and touch the poor. Perhaps this is the way I see God at times... bending over and reaching down to meet our needs.
While there is a time for reaching out and extending help, this was not the welcoming hospitality that Jesus frequently gave to others in his path. He empowered them by coming under, being their friend and lifting them up.
Jesus went out of his way to come down and lift us up rather than staying at His high position of glory and helping us from there. Philippians 2:5-8 says,... although He existed in the form of God... [He] emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." And on the cross, He took the lowest position as He was lifted up on the cross in our place in order that we could be freed.
Romans
12:10-13 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one
another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep
your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the
Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Hospitality to others is something expected as a fruit of our Christianity. In 1 Timothy 5:10, Paul told Timothy to not put on the list for support widows unless they were faithful to their husbands, known for good deeds and show hospitality.
Hebrews
13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to
strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to
angels without knowing it.”
We are to embrace those who come across our path and welcome them with open arms and hearts. But what does this look like?
There is a wonderful demonstration of what this kind of hospitality looks like in Acts 28:2. A group of islanders who had not been exposed to the gospel, saw the need of some hungry, tired, and half drown people and welcomed them in. The group that included a Centurion, soldiers, sailors, and prisoners who had been out to sea, stuck in a storm for many days without food.
They showed up on the island with nothing but their needs. Yet these islanders, rather than fear them and shut them out, took them out of the rain and cold and built a fire to warm them. They not only provided for their warmth and food, but then welcomed them into their home and showed generosity to them. When they eventually were leaving, they even furnished them with the supplies they needed.
There is a wonderful demonstration of what this kind of hospitality looks like in Acts 28:2. A group of islanders who had not been exposed to the gospel, saw the need of some hungry, tired, and half drown people and welcomed them in. The group that included a Centurion, soldiers, sailors, and prisoners who had been out to sea, stuck in a storm for many days without food.
They showed up on the island with nothing but their needs. Yet these islanders, rather than fear them and shut them out, took them out of the rain and cold and built a fire to warm them. They not only provided for their warmth and food, but then welcomed them into their home and showed generosity to them. When they eventually were leaving, they even furnished them with the supplies they needed.
What does it look like to demonstrate
this kind of hospitality to those who come across our paths in our
everyday lives? To welcome and receive those who come across our
path with love and acceptance for who they are, exactly how they are
now (not how we think they should be). [a]
Leveticus 19:34 says, “The foreigner
residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as
yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
Jesus and Paul not only demonstrated
hospitality, but they received it.
Zecchaeus the tax collector for example, who had climbed up in a tree to see Jesus. Jesus noticed him, told him to come down and gave him the honor of offering to stay at his house. It was a vulnerable position for Jesus to take as he looked to receive hospitality from Zecchaeus.
Jesus asked the woman at the well to give her a drink of water and Paul counted on other's hospitality in inviting him in and caring for him when he went to a new area to preach the gospel.
Zecchaeus the tax collector for example, who had climbed up in a tree to see Jesus. Jesus noticed him, told him to come down and gave him the honor of offering to stay at his house. It was a vulnerable position for Jesus to take as he looked to receive hospitality from Zecchaeus.
Jesus asked the woman at the well to give her a drink of water and Paul counted on other's hospitality in inviting him in and caring for him when he went to a new area to preach the gospel.
I think I struggle more with vulnerably
receiving what others who need to be empowered have to give more than
I do giving to them. I wonder what it looks like to make myself for
vulnerable to receive the hospitality of others as well.
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders."
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