The God we serve describes himself as the final word host! He tells us of a grand banqueting table he prepares for his followers to someday dine at (Isaiah 25:6) and a eternally home in Heaven that he graciously has crafted only for us (John 14:2). When God incarnate walked this Earth, he showed us embrace those that you had nothing in common with. Jesus broke every racial, socio-economic, and cultural barrier during his ministry because his mission was to indicate that God’s love is for all of humanity.
The gospels tell us of a Jesus who practiced radical hospitality, and our Messiah invites us to do the identical.
This Heaven-inspired hospitality goes beyond Pinterest-perfect meals and well-planned dinner parties. Jesus’ hospitality is one which goes the additional mile even for somebody who may even feel like an enemy. Jesus compelled his followers to go the additional mile when the Roman soldiers tapped them to hold their heavy gear the mandated one mile for them.
The Jews on the time would have resented this law that made them do the heavy lifting for the Roman army, but Jesus said not only to comply with this difficult law but to go above and beyond what was asked of them by walking a second mile with these soldiers! This practice was undoubtedly a radical mandate of unheard-of service and hospitality. But are you able to imagine the life-changing conversations and heart changes that happened between the Jews and the Romans as they trekked along together? Change happens within the above and beyond.
This is the form of generous care we must extend to those around us. People are usually not impressed by us merely giving what’s required of us. Christ’s followers are called to present beyond what is affordable because that is what the love of Christ is for us. We give freely with open hands because God gave his only son for us so we could have everlasting life even while we were yet sinners. We are eternally given hope and are invited to take the long view with our lives because God is our ultimate generous host.
Jesus Calls Us to Open Our Lives to Loving the Vulnerable
Matthew 25:40 tells us, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I inform you, whatever you probably did for one in all the least of those brothers and sisters of mine, you probably did for me.’
God assesses our love for him by how we love the vulnerable. Just let that sink in for a moment. I feel that for many of us if we let that truth permeate our hearts, it could completely upend how we live our lives. What we want to recollect most as we seek to follow God’s way is how fearlessly and relentlessly the God incarnate cared for the hurting, vulnerable, and lost. He was never too hurried to care for individuals who needed his loving touch.
Let us follow the instance of Jesus and learn how we generally is a a part of showing compassion and look after those in need. Our first step is a sincere prayer to ask God how we could be utilized in his Kingdom as an agent who brings Heaven down! When we ask turn into more radical hosts, God is faithful to reply as this prayer aligns together with his call for all his followers.
My husband and I took time to wish this prayer about five years ago, all of the while feeling a bit skeptical that God would answer. We were doing ‘good work’ as a believing family. Raising our three biological kids, homeschooling, and even having chickens! A superbly acceptable approach to live comfortably as American Christ followers, but what we’d discover through prayer and a willingness to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit is that God had so rather more for us.
Our Jesus was calling us into unknown places that required a deep willingness to trust him with all we have now and a Holy Spirit-led open-heartedness that made space for our family to face within the gap for vulnerable kids and families in our community as foster parents. Foster care is the place where we have now been led to step into dark places and consider firmly by faith that God’s light is larger than brokenness. Each of us has an area where we’re called to be light bringers by committing to indicate our needy world the unconventional love of Christ.
God’s Hospitality is Joyful and Sacrificial
There is an upside-downness to the best way things work with God. Jesus teaches it’s higher to present than to receive (Acts 20:35). He tells us that as we give, we should always find joy (2 Corinthians 9:7). God’s word also tells us that our lives are to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
How do sacrificing, giving, and living with less for ourselves after we give more to those that are in need all equal a joyful life? Because as we journey God’s narrow way his Spirit gives us all we want to follow him. True joy comes after we walk in obedience to God’s way and follow him as he gently leads us towards a selfless life.
God’s Hospitality Breaks Barriers
As Christ’s followers, we see that Jesus touches the untouchable, walks with the Roman soldiers, dines with the tax collector, and responds to the religion of the Gentiles. God doesn’t let the barriers that our culture places on who and the way we predict of others hold back his ministry. His love is offered to all who’re willing to just accept it.
Jesus, within the Sermon on the Mount, said blessed are the peacemakers because they will likely be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). A component of living with Christ-centered hospitality is being faithful to live inclusive lives. The Bible teaches that each human has value because they’re a picture bearer of their Creator. That means we reject lines of division that wish to silo us by race, wealth, politics, gender, and more. We treat nobody as untouchable because we honor the worth of their life. When we bravely embrace those that the world says we should always reject, we see peace born out of our lives.
Let us feel the urgency of God’s example to live big, open lives which can be ruled by God’s love. Who are we bringing to our table that will feel like a stranger? How are we caring for individuals who are caught at the hours of darkness? By faith let’s prepare a more generous heart that’s obedient when the Spirit says love them for me today.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Aaron Burden
