Scripture to Read: 1 Peter 4:9
As we read 1 Peter 4:9, we see that God is challenging all believers to show hospitality toward each other. To be hospitable means we choose to be welcoming, helpful, neighborly, warm-hearted, or kind-hearted. For some people, showing hospitality comes easy because they have the gift of hospitality. Now, just because we do not have the gift of hospitality does not give us the excuse that we do not have to practice hospitality. That is why God makes it a point to tell us to be hospitable in 1 Peter 4:9 and adds that we do it without complaining. It’s great when God gets so specific about an action we’re to carry out, that He makes sure to also cover our possible negative attitude toward the actions He’s commanded us to do. So, God wants us to cheerfully share our home with people in need and to share a meal as is needed. An important fact we must remember about everything we currently have is that all of those things do not belong to us. God is the one who has provided us with everything we have, and without His provision, we would have nothing. God tells us in James 1:17, Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. We have a lot of good gifts and all of them are from our Lord. We do not need to be greedy with those gifts, but we must learn to share them.
Challenge & Application
· Since God has commanded us to be hospitable and to do it without complaint, how are you practicing hospitality?
· What areas of your life do you need to surrender to our Lord to be better at hospitality?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!