Key Passages: Leviticus 19:33-34; Matthew 10; John 15; Romans 12:9-13; 1 Peter 4:7-11
Key Idea: Abiding in Christ should fill us with mercy and grace that overflow into acts of hospitality and kindness toward others. Yet many of us struggle to do so because we distract ourselves with other good things. How can we help one another spend time with Jesus so we can see others deeply, minister well, and form deep connections with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Everything starts with abiding in Christ, but what does that mean? The other day, I (Laura) was listening to a podcast, and they illustrated abiding using our relationship with our cell phones. Even if we’re not looking at them, we are thinking about them. We reach out and touch them. We look to them for answers. We look at them when we’re bored.
Do we ever think about Jesus this way? I know that I rarely do. It is no wonder, then, that giving away kindness and welcome to others through acts of hospitality can be challenging: we are not filling ourselves with Jesus. We know from John 15 that the only way to bear fruit for God is to abide in Christ like the branches abide in the vine. We know that abiding in him provides us with resources that overflow into a life of service for others. We know that his love for us gives us everything we need to love others. So why are we better at abiding with our cell phones than we are with our Lord?
Take a look at your spaces and your schedule. What is the centerpiece of your living space? Is the seating arranged so that people can see each other? How about the front porch or front patio? Can you sit out there and greet the people who walk by? Do you smile or give a nod to the people in line at the DMV? When you see people you don’t know, do you greet them and introduce yourself? When you’re at dinner with friends, where is your cell phone? Are you giving someone a good word during the Sunday morning greeting time? We put up so many barriers to connection, and our culture doesn’t help. It’s too easy to hang out watching a movie rather than inviting someone over for a meal. It’s too easy to convince ourselves that we don’t have time rather than make space in our calendar to hang out with our sisters and brothers in Christ. If we are to help one another abide in Christ, we need to spend time with one another.
Every Christian has been called and empowered for ministry. Every Christian can generously share the overflow of Christ’s grace and mercy through hospitality. Now, when we hear the word “hospitality,” we may first think of a desk at a hotel or the person who arranges fun events at school or work. But that’s not it. Hospitality is an attitude of kindness and welcome that overflows into the spaces we live in and the moments of our days.
Now, I have no doubts that there are people in our midst who are very good at hospitality, but there are some of us who are pretty poor at it. We need to spend time with one another, practicing hospitality and pausing our busyness to spend time with Jesus and one another. We can help one another point our lives toward Christ, getting ever closer to that point when we reach for him when we’re bored, turn to him when we have questions, and think about him when our minds wander. Let us help one another see others deeply, minister well, and form deep connections with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Who writes Academy? Laura has an MDiv in Christian Education, a ThM in Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Educational Studies. She also serves TFB as a guitarist (primarily) and singer in TFB's worship band. Jeff has a Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies and is currently working on an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He also serves as kitchen lead for TFB's Family Dinner and as TFB’s bookkeeper.
