GOD’S HOSPITALITY 4 FEB 2018

This is a reminder to those who follow the Biblical way of Messiah that we are called to be hospitable to our fellow man. Hospitality is an important virtue which we are repeatedly called upon in the Word of God to perform.(A) Our supreme example to follow is YHWH God Himself who invited us to the family God while many of us were still enemies to the divine Truth, Life and the Way. I was recently reminded of how godly hospitality operates when I was invited over to a Mennonite home for a meal. I also recently have received hospitality from Mynamar refugees, who probably know first hand how it feels to be destitute in a strange land.

HOSPITALITY IN THE 23RD PSALM. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…”(B) The father of our faith, known as a lover/friend of God, Abraham practiced hospitality to 3 strangers inviting them to enjoy great food & shelter.(C) “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”(D)

The ancient godly custom of hospitality of the middle east has come forward in some localities. The Islamic Bedouin of the desert will warmly invite you in no matter if you are an enemy & generously take care of you. A guest is protected & given good things to eat. The guest (and I have experienced this first hand) will sit on the floor & receive enormous platters of food. There is even an Islamic name for a meal of reconcilliation between enemies; it is called “sulha”. Christ expected those who were led by the Spirit to be hospitable to his disciples. “…if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”(E) If you give a stranger a cup of water, you have given it unto Him. Likewise, Christ invites all who want to spiritually eat & drink of his spiritual feast to do so.(F)

GODLY DIRECTION IN THIS. “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.”(G) “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”(H) Let us surrender all to our Lord and agape love our neighbors & enemies for such is the Way of God. God Himself has given us the supreme example by inviting us to fellowship with Him.(I) Your home’s dinner table can be transformed into an altar (mikdash meyat), where the loving Spirit of God can minister to strangers. Let us not forget that all good gifts & all we have ultimately came from God Himself. “Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem min ha-aretz, Amen.” God loves you & I love you my friend, and that’s the way it should be. May Christ continue to bless you my friend.

references
(A) ROM 12:13, 1 TIM 3:2, TIT 1:8, 1 PTR 4:9 (B) PS 23:4-5a (C) GEN 18:6-7 (D)HEB 13:2 (E) MK 6:8, 11 (F) JN 6:51,10:9 (G) PRV 25:21-22 (H) ROM 12:20 (I) one example is EX 24:9-11