Today in church, our pastor was preaching about Gospel-focused churches and welcoming people into church. He said that a couple once told him that whenever they saw new people coming into church with that “deer in the headlights” look, they considered it an “emergency” and immediately sought them out to make the newcomers feel welcomed. Talk about intentional hospitality!

Today, it feels like hospitality is treated as optional instead of an essential, emergency-level action. But in God’s Word, we see how hospitality is woven into our lives as believers. In 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, hospitality is listed as a quality that overseers must possess. Hebrews 13 starts off with a call to not neglect hospitality, even stating that “some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2)! In 1 Peter 4, hospitality is commanded of believers. This command is sandwiched between a call to love and a call to serve, all for the glory of God (1 Peter 4:8-11). When we show hospitality, we are living in unity with believers for the glory of God.

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to be hospitable. With social media at our fingertips, it’s all too easy to compare and feel embarrassed. We can’t have them over; our house isn’t…. fill in the blank. But we see in Scripture that God’s call to hospitality isn’t to show our own glory in the perfection of our homes but is to help meet “the needs of the saints” (Romans 12:13) for God’s glory. For God’s glory, and by His power (see today’s passage).

Some of us might be overseas or far away from fellow believers. How can we show hospitality in creative ways? Let’s ask our good Father to reveal to us by His Spirit ways to be hospitable in whatever season He’s given us.

Speaking of creative hospitality, Jesus demonstrated hospitality without even having a home! His compassionate words showed the hospitality of his heart: “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

"My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)

“Jesus looked at him and loved him.” (Mark 10:21a)

“Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’” (Luke 8:48)

In our home and in our interactions with others, let’s seek to reflect the compassionate and welcoming heart of our Savior. Not from our own strength, but out of His (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Peter 4:11). As we do so, we keep our eyes fixed on the One who is preparing a place for us to live forever with Him.